IMAGE  EVALUATION 
T^ST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.0 


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Photographic 

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D 
D 
D 


V 


D 
0 

n 

D 
D 
D 


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The 
pes 
oft 
filnn 


Orl| 
beg 
the 
slor 
oth( 
first 
sior 
oril 


The 
sha 
TIN 
whi 

Mai 
diff 
enti 
beg 
righ 
reqi 
met 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

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IPX 14X 18X ax 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


ails 

du 

idifier 

une 

nage 


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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iliustrent  la  mdthode. 


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LEGISLATURE   OF   MINNESOTA. 


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'        '■ 


NORTHWEST    BRITISH    AMERICA, 


AM)    IT-!    REI,ATro\J    TO 


THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA. 


si; 


BY    JAMES    W.    TAVI.on. 


A  Eoport  Communicated  to  the  Legislature  of  Minnesota  by  Governor  Ramaey,  March  2d,  and  Ordered 

to  be  Printed. 


ST.  PAUL: 

NEWSON,  MOORE,  KO&TKU   k   COMPANY,   PlilNTKRF, 
18  60. 


,/^ 


GOVEKNOR'S     MESSAGE. 


To  'J'HK   IlorsK  ()!■'    RlOl'UI'lSKNTA'I'lX  i;s  : 

I  lijivi'  tlu'  huiK.r  to  trim>inir  licivwitli,  loi-  tlit'  list'  of  the  Lc\Lnslature,  a 
Re[)ort  this  day  pi-cscMitcd  t(.  inc.  iijimi  tlie  ivhitioiis  of  the  Stateof  Minne- 
sota to  Northwest  Hritish  Aiiiei'ica.  uuuU'  i!j>oii  the  sniri^estion  and  at  the 
request  of  iiiv  ])re(U'eess()i'  in  (.tiice,  h_v  All'.  James  W.  Taxdor. 

The  aeeoiii])an_vinii-  report  relates  to  matters  whieh  ai-e 'not  merely  a  snh- 
jeet  of  interestiiiii:  iiujuiry  to  all,  hut  wliieh  concern,  in  a  liTeat  de<;ree,  the 
future  g'rowtli  and  develo])nient  of  (Mir  State,  and  to  which  the  attention  of 
(Statesmen,  both  of  this  country  and  of  Enu'huid,  is  already  considerably 
directed. 

I  tlierefore  recommend  tliis  report,  containino-  valuable  information  upon 
so  important  a  subject,  to  t]ie  attenti<  ii  <»f  the  Leijislatnre. 

'  ALEX.  liAMSEY. 

ExE(^L"nvE  Offick,        I 

St.  Paul,  Mai'cli  2,  ls(U».  ( 


.  ■■■"'V 


tNJ-i  -,-^n 


Uu-::?— 


O 


yg^l-*IJ^.. 


REPORT. 


II 


St.  ?aui,,  March  2,  1858.       | 

Ilini,  Alfxaadfr  linmiti.;/,  Onivrnor  nf  Minnefuta.  \ 

On  the  18th  of  June  18a9,  I  received  from  j 
Hon.  Henry  II.  Sibi.ev,  (iovernor  of  Miiine-  I 
sota,  a  comtnunication,  requesting  me  to  ob-  \ 
tain,  in  the  course  of  a  visit  to  the  Selkirk  Set-  ! 
tlement,  "reliable  iiifunnatiin  relative  to  the  I 
physical  a.specis  and  other  facts  connected 
with  the  British  possessions  on  the  line  of  the 
Overland  Route  Ironi  I'embina  via  the  Red 
River  Settlement  and  the  Saskatchewan  val- 
ley to  Frazer's  River,"  and  to  communicate 
the  same  to  the  Executive  Department  in  a 
form  suitable  for  submission  to  the  Legisla- 
ture. 

At  the  Selkirk  Settlement  upon  the  Red 
River  of  the  North,  the  introduction  of  Gov.  | 
Stni.EY  was  duly  honored  by  Hon.  AVii.i,ia.m 
Mc  TAVisri,  Governor  of  Assiniboia.  'liie  set- 
t.ement  upon  the  Red  river,  from  th;j  inter- 
Tiational  boutulary  at  I'enibiiia  to  iho  month 
of  the  river  in  Luke  Winnipeg,  and  upon  the 
Assiniboin  river,  fur  a  distance  of  sixt}-  mik's 
west  of  its  junction  with  the  Red  river  at  Fort 
Garr}',  have  .acquired  a  civil  organization, 
under  appointments  of  the  Hudson  Ba}-  Com- 
pany, which  is  officially  designated  as  "  Tho 
Colony  of  Assiniboia."  I  desire  to  acknowl- 
edge the  uniform  coin'te>y,  and  solicitude  to 
communicate  the  information  sought  by  me,, 
not  only  of  Governor  McTavisii,  but  of  Dr. 

J.  BUNN,    JOUN    E.     II.V15KI0TT,    Esq.    TUOMAS 

Sinclair  Esq.  and  Kohekt  ilAcmiiii  Esq. 
gentlemen  holding  the  appointments  of  Legisla- 
tive Councillors  and  Magistrate.sof  the  colo- 
ny of  Assiniboia. 

The  first  Territorial  Librarian  of  Minnesota, 
Chas.  Cavilleak,  Eiq.,  and  Hon. N.  \V.  Kitt- 
son, late  Mayor  of  St.  Paul,  are  now  residents 
at  St.  Boniface,  the  seat  of  the  Catholic  Epis- 


copate, opposite  Fort  Garry  ;  and  T  am  greatly 
indi'btod  for  their  sii^igeslions.  The  Histori- 
cal colleetions  of  D.  (ii:NN,  Esq.,  Correspond- 
ent of  the  Sun'thsonian  Institute,  were  access- 
ible by  me. 

I  shall  have  occasion,  also,  in  the  progress 
of  tliis  report,  to  produce  the  testimor.j'  of 
liishop  Tache  of  tho  Catholic  Church,  and 
Bishop  Andeuson'  and  Archdeacon  IIusTERof 
tho  Churrli  of  Lr.glan  i.  To  them  and  others 
of  the  Clergy  of  Selkirk,  I  would  express  ob 
ligations  for  valuable  information. 

It  is  unnecassary  to  repeat  the  narrative  of 
Lord  Selkirk's  rcmaikalilj  colonization  of 
Red  River.  Of  the  present  community  of  ten 
thousand  souls,  about  Wwc  thousand  are  com- 
petent, at  this  moment,  to  a'^sume  any  civil  i.r 
soei;i.l  resp  )nsibility,  which  iiiny  be  imposed 
upon  them.  The  accimuihitions  from  the  fur 
trade  during  fifty  year-,  with  few  excitements 
or  opporturiities  of  cxpenditiiro,  have  se- 
cureii  general  prospeiiiy,  wiUi  fre(pient  in- 
stances of  allluence ;  while  the  numerous 
churches  and  schools  susiiiiii  a  liii^h  stiuulard 
of  morality  and  intel'igi'nce. 

The  people  of  Solkiric  fully  appreciate  the 
advantages  of  communication  with  theMissis- 
sipjii  River  and  Lnke  Superior  tiiroiigh  the 
State  of  ifinncsota.  They  are  nnxious  lor  the 
utmo>t  faciiilies  of  U'adc  and  intercourse. 
The  navigation  of  the  lied  River  by  a  steam- 
boat during  the  summer  of  l.s.")!),  was  univer- 
sally rec(\j;nizcd  as  marking  a  new  era  in 
their  annals.  This  public  sentiment  was 
pithily  expressed  by  the  remark  :  "  In  1851, 
the  Governor  of  Minnesota  visited  ns  ;  in  1851) 
c  )tnes  a  Steamboat,  and  ten  years  more'^will 
bring  the  Railroad  !" 

I  was  gratified  to  find  that  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company   was  no   exception  to  the  geiteral 


i 


(') 


foL'liiiiicfcurilijilily.  <  it)V(  iiiurSiui,i:v  was  ap- 
prc'lieiisivt',  wiili  tlif  iirospccl  of  '^ntiitly  in- 
creased intercoursi'  liy  tin'  chuiinel  of  Ked 
liivcr,  thn*.  Am'-iir.ni  tiwlrrs  ami  oinij];vatits 
inifiht  he  I'cci'ivcil  it'.Iiosnitiilily,  l>ut  im  .•.iicli 
disposition  was  shown;  ami.  as  to  tin-  cnltr- 
priseol's;.  am  nuviij,aiion.il  's  r.nw  nndcrstood 
tliat  tin;  lluilsiin  I'mv  ('oinp.my  lias  lu'coiiie 
an  acitivo  party  in  it-;  fiitnn'  jirnsfcHtiMn. 

TIk!  popnlatiiui  of  Si'll.iil'.  iinconni'cU'cl 
witli  tlio  coniijany,  is  so  niituc'iins  ami  iiitiu- 
ential  tliat  all  ic-trii-Mons  of  tiadi'  Iiavc  \)vv\\ 
rclitupiisiu'il.  ?il(isi  aiiiicaijli'  lelations  exist 
between  the  tradiiiLi;  post  at  I'oit  (iairy,  and 
Kittson's  still  1  111  at  Saint  ni/nil'ici'.  (ioods 
are  eliargud  uith  an  iiiipust  ol'  fnur  [ler  cent. 
whetliCT  bi'itnilit  trnm  Kuroiif  or  tlie  L'nited 
States,  wliifh  coii>til(ites  {he  revenue  of  the 
colony  of  As.-iniboia.  J^and  can  be  puveliascd 
by  any  one  at  seven  shilMngs  sterling  ))or 
acre,  with  liberal  credits  and  low  interest. 

For  the  present,  the  Jr.risdiction  of  ihe 
C'lUntry  is  oxclu-ivv-ly  iha'  "f  'mv  !!nd- 
son  Bay  Comi)any.  'I'h' !  ■  i^  a  pvol^a- 
bility,  however,  that  representative  institu- 
tions will  be  established  by  an  act  of  the  cur- 
rent Enpjlisli  T'.nliain^Mit.  T.'^ttcrs  from  TiOn- 
don  vvere  s1'.>wh  to  mcin  ,\u'.:usl  —  jtariicnlai'ly 
u  communi.'aMon  fror.i  i'.ofessor  Ishistek  of 
London,   U)   Uonai  .n,    K  q.,    nf  f,ower 

Fort  Garry  -v.hic'i  .  -d  ihai  one  of  the 
latest  oflicial  acts  of  Mr  ili)\VA)U)  ik'i.wi^K 
LvTTOx,  bef.re  his  rcfinanent  tnm  th;;  (ifflce 
of  Coloni;d  Secrelaiy,  was  (n  draft  and  circu- 
late for  llio  Cwiv-idcration  of  in(.'ii)}>er.-  of  Wn- 
liamei  t,  a  bill  providini:!;  for  the  organization 
of  a  colony,  wi\i('h  ^houl(l  embrace  lh(!  district 
cxtendinjji;  fri>ni  Lakes  Superior  and  Winnipeu' 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  an<l  bounded  north 
by  latitude  55"^.  hs  passage  was  only  pre- 
vented by  liie  resi^iuation  of  the  DKUitv  min- 
istry, and  I  notice  that  l'>is!iop  .Vnoeiison,  in 
a  recent  cliarge  to  the  cleri;y  of  his  diocese, 
expresses  great  confidence  that  .*^ir  Eowakd's 
successor  in  the  (.'ulonial  Offiee,  the  Imke  of 
Newcastle,  "  whose  alt'iulior.  has  for  many 
years  been  directed  to  this  subject,  will  be 
prepared  ere  long  with  a  comprehensive  meas- 
ure of  the  same  chai'acter."     '  I .) 


(1.)  TliP  qiii'-tiiiii  111'  ii  ili-ilinci  (irijiiiuznti.in,  1>y  ai:t  of 
1'arliiiiiioiit,  i-  the  -.olc  Ihjim-  c!'  political  ili>iiiissi'jii  in  llie 
Sfr^irlv  Si-ttl'Mnc-iii-.  Si'(>  till'  of  lli(>  Xur'  U'rsti-r,  fdr.hin- 
uary,  ISf.O,  h  pip»-i'  rnlili'luHf  at  Vnri  Ciai-ry.     In  tin'  An 


penilix    (A.)    tli"   s'Oii/c.l  oi 
prHseutcd  in  ilcthi! .. 


C 


I  vQ;:in'^itiiin  i.' 


The  jihysical  geography  of  the  vast  interior 
districts,  which  constitut(;  the  basin  of  Lake 
Wiiuiipeg,  will  soon  l»e  as  fannliar  as  that  of 
the  territory  of  the  l'nited  States  within  the 
same  lines  of  longitude.  The  Canadian  (lov- 
eiMinent  has  lately  pidilished  the  residt  of  an 
exploration  cd"  the  (ihanm  Is  and  valleys  of  the 
lied  and  AssiniI)oin  rivers.  The  iiondon 
(.ieogra})hic!»l  Society  has  given  to  tlie  world 
the  narratives  of  Captain  I'Ai.i.isst'it  and  his 
associates,  who  have  thoroughly  exjilorcd  the 
vicinity  and  pas.scs  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
between  latitudes  4!i"'  and  ol'"'.  Intelligent 
parties,  organized  for  hunting  adventin-e  or 
overland  transit,  are  making  constant  addi- 
tions to  the  pid)Iic  knowledge  of  Northwest 
Atnerica.  A  citizen  of  Minnesota,  Col.  W.m. 
H.  Noiu-KS,  whose  name  is  the  designation  of 
the  most  practicable  pass  of  the  Sieira  Neva- 
da, discovered  by  liini  in  !!-*")!,  has  tinated  hi:; 
attention  since  the  field  Discovery  of  Hriti.-h 
Oolumliia,  to  the  details  of  an  Ovtrland  Mmi- 
gration  R'>ute,  by  trie  valleys  of  the  Red  Riv- 
er of  the  North,  the  South  Saskabdiewr.n  and 
the  Kootonais  Pavs.  An  exploration  con- 
ducted bj'  him  in  the  sinmn"rof  1.*-^.")!)  to  Fort 
F/llice  on  the  western  sources  of  tlie  Assina- 
bdin.  was  y(?r\  satisfactory,  and  i's  re-:nlts 
will  !jc  published,  as  soon  as  a  re[jort  by  J. 
W.  lL\Mii-TON,  Fi.sq.,  who  conducted  the  same 
party  of  exploration  from  Fort  Ellice  through 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  fihall  be  received.    (2.) 

Upon  the  general  tojiic,  suggested  by  (Jov. 
Siiu.EY,of  Ciimniiim'cations  between  Minneso- 
ta and  CentralBritish  America,  whether  con- 
sidered in  regard  to  transportation  from 
that  extensive  district  to  Lake  Superior 
and  the  Mississippi  river,  or  in  regard  to  a 
westcj'n  connexion  with  the  PacUic  coast,  I 
beff  leave  to  submit  the  following  results  of 
recent  observation  and  enqniry. 

1.  Tl'.e  navigable  capacity  of  the  Red  Riv- 
er of  the  North  maj*  be  comparatively  stat'd, 
as  follows :  Ascending  the  jstreatn  from 
Lake  Winnipeg,  the  navigation  to  Peiidiina 
is  equal  to  that  of  the  Mississippi  between 
Prairie  dii  Chien  and  Lake  Pepin  ;  from  F'cmu- 
bina  (o  the  month  of  Red  Lake  river,  the 
channel  imiy  be  compared  to  the    Mississippi 

(■J.)  Sc«  A]i|ioniiix  (B  )  d'f'f'Knniliii':!!  .Memiiir  (if  tic 
PhiI  Kiv«'r  and  Sa.'-katc'he» an  District  :  (0  )  .-ii'  I'd 'crick 
Muri'lii-'Dii.  <iii  1lic  rcsiilt-i  nf  tlv  I'-'ili.-':  cr  [v.|!cili  ion  : 
(0.)  TMiiffarics  of  Routi^s  fnun  S.-iint  ''mil  to  \ri>rl  I'llice 
and  PMiiiiHitoii  Hmisp.  a.- nb-^>'rv>  il  ■'•/  I'.l' i;  SiiViUi,  C'Vil 
Ep,;'iiii  cr.  sniirol    W.  tl.  Xniiln-i. 


( 


(Voin 
Superior 
ird   to  a 

(.'OrtSt,     I 

eniilts   of 

Ic.l  Iviv- 
ily  Stat'  d, 
j\m  from 
Pcinliina 
between 
voiu  p(Mn- 
rivcr,  the 
,1i<si>;sippi 

eniiiiv  ('*'  tl'C 
.-ii-  I'll  !ci  iok 
■  V\\)i'i\\  i'"i  : 
0  tort  Fllice 
-■vniUi,  C'Vil 


from  Red  Will};  Id  l'\>rt  Siiulliivj; ;  fiuni  Kid 
Luko  river  to  Sliayuiino,  to  the  Miimesutiv 
from  i''i.  Siielliiii;  to  Siiiikopeo;  iiiid  tVoin 
ShayeiUK-  lo  iJreekiiiriiige,  ti>  tlui  Miiuie.Mtta 
from  Shakopee  to  Fort  Kiilgley.  Tlie  only 
material  ohstrii(!tion  — sand  l)ar>;  near  tlic 
mouth  of  (.ioose  river — may  he  removed  (so 
Captain  E,  Ue'l,  who  cuimnaiided  the  steam- 
(;r,  AiiKon  iSorl/irv//,  in  the  summer  of  IH.V.l, 
avers)  hy  an  ex|)en(htuie  <>['  one  thousand 
dollars.  'I'he  Red  Kiver  is  iiiivijuhle  al)nve 
(south  of)  l'enil)iiia  400  miles,  while  the  dis- 
tanee  from  the  Internalinnal  line  liy  t!ie  rivei' 
to  Lake  Wiimipe;:;,  is  17">  miles;  tudi!  di," 
taiii.'e  navi;,7jl)le  l)y  steamers  .')7o  inilis.  To 
this  add  :'>.")' I  miles  for  the  naviiiraiion  of  tlie 
Shayenne,  Iteil  I<aku  river  and  As^iniboin, 
(its  [)riiici|)al  tributaries)  and  tin;  liv  r  coast 
of  the  Jied  Kiver  Valley,  aeeessibje  by 
steamers,  will  lie  Idund  ti  exi;eeil  nine  hun- 
dred miles. 

2.  Lake  Winnipijujis  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  in  length,  Imt  of  imccpial 
breadth.  Its  area  cannot  be  less  'h  ui  that  of 
Lake  Erie,  but  is  fir  more  diversified  iiy  is- 
lands and  headlands.  The  western  bank  is 
alluvial,  resting  on  limestone,  while  the  nu- 
merous baj's  of  its  eastern  shore  developo  the 
gneis.'^,  granite  and  trap  rock  vi  the  primary 
formation.  The  lake  is  not  deep,  but  with  no 
.shallows  obstructive  to  navigation. 

3.  From  a  point  near  the  Nortliwestern 
angle  of  Lake  Winnipeg,  the  great  navigable 
channel  of  the  Saskatchewan,  divided  into 
two  arms  at  latitude  53  '^  and  longitude  I  (I'l  ^ 
may  be  ascended  by  steamers  to  Fort  Edmon- 
ton on  the  north  branch,  and  to  (.'hesterfield 
House  or  old  How  Fort  on  tin;  .sontli  1 'ranch. 
in  close  pro.\imity  to  the  Rocky  iMninttains. 
The  llapids  of  the  Saskatchewan,  nar  liie 
mouth  of  the  river,  can  hardly  i)e  said  to  inter- 
rupt navigation.  Open  loaded  boats  have  been 
tracked  (drawn  with  a  rope  by  men  on  shore) 
over  the  most  violent  portions  of  the  Rapids, 
the  respective  distances  being  one  mile  and 
a  quarter  of  a  mile,  while,  for  descending  ves- 
sels, there  is  no  difficulty.  Jjoaded  boats 
run  the  Rapids  with  safety  at  every  stage  of 
water. 

4.  When  Central  British  America  is  fully 
recognized  as  a  colony  of  England,  its  interior 
navigation  can  be  greatly  facilitated  by  canals 
between  the  channels  of  the  Assiniboin  and 


the  South  Saskalchcwaii,  and  connecting 
Lakes  Winnipigiios  and  Manitoba  with  the 
Saskatchewan  west  of  the  rapids;  but  witii 
the  present  ni.tiual  advaiitngesof  the  country, 
it  is  ea.sy  to  peict  ive  that  sleam  navigation 
will  greatly  oontriiiiile  i. >  the  enterpiise  of  an 
oveiiaiid  coiiiiiiuiiicalioii  froi'.i  MinneMita  to 
ih'iti.sli  ColuiiiLiii,  and,  wiiat  is  of  more  inmie- 
diale  iinportanci.'  to  the  Stale,  will  bring  an 
iiimieiise  and  fertile  district,  who-u  coltiiii/.a- 
tion  can  be  no  longer  postponed,  into  profita- 
ble connection  witli  the  publii-  ihoiouuhiaies 
'  r  Minnesota. 

.").  Tile  ti^timony  i>r  ,\n<.\\  K.  IIaiuiiott, 
I'isii.,  .Arclideacon  lliMi;u,  iSishop  Tvciik 
aiid  others  w;is  explicii,  that  toe  country  up- 
on the  north  luancii  of  tie  Saskatchewan  is 
superior,  for  tiie  purpose  of  agriculture,  to  the 
plains  of  the  South  Saskalchewan.  Tlie  lal- 
tev  are  destituti'  of  timber,  except  on  a  r;in;;e 
of  elevations  near  the  inli.'rnational  boundarx'. 
and  partake  of  the  cretiiceoiis  formal  ion  ap- 
parent on  the  IpjX'r  J!is^ou:i.  The  rt;.;ions 
adjacent  to  Fort  Peily,  Carlton  House,  Fort; 
Pitt  and  Fjdm'>ntoii  House — well  known  points 
in  a  general  northwestern  direction  from  Fort 
(Jarry — are  remarkably  adapled  to  the  culti- 
v.ition  of  grain  and  the  sustenance  of  cattle. 
The  scenery  of  the  North  Saskatchewan  is 
fully  e(pial  to  that  of  the  Mississippi  between 
(i.alenaand  the  Falls  of  St.  ^Anthony. 

15.  The  limit  of  successful  agriculture  in 
the  Northern  'I'empeiati;  /me  should  be  car- 
ried conside'.i\bly  lieyond  the  Saskatchewan, 
valley,  es[iecially  near  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Sir  RoiiKKK  iv  Ml  io  in-iiN,  iii  a  re  ■>.  nt,  address 
before  the  i.oolna  ( ieoiiiaoliiiMi  Sneiety,  rep- 
resents tlii-;  cleiiu  of  inounlidns  lo  be  greatly 
depressed  in  high  iiorlhern  latitudes,  and,  in- 
deed, several  of  the  iri'.ntiuie.s  of  the  Mack- 
enzie lene  t!;ur  sonii'i  -  i  ii  the  P;;ciiic  slope, 
and  wind  through  lb'.' iiiouiilains  Inf. ire  falling 
into  the  gnat  Arctic  river.  The  mountain 
valleys  of  the  Peace  and  Liard  rivers,  from 
latitudes  56  degrees  to  00  desfrecs,  are  thus 
influenced  by  the  Pacific  winds,  and  wheat, 
with  other  cereals,  is  sncces-ifully  cultivated. 

7.  The  present  agriculture  of  Selkirk  con- 
firms the  evidence  from  a  variety  of  sources, 
that  the  disvricu-  >u'>t  and  northwest  of  the 
Red  River  valle}',  are  well  adapted  to  settle- 
ments. For  the  production  of  wheat,  barley, 
rye,  oats,  peas,  potatoes,  vegetables,  grass — 


wliutevpr  is  grown  in  Minnosota  except  maize, 
tho  region  in  qiicstit.n  will  lio  iinsurpassod  liy 
any  othor  area  of  siiT.ilar  extent  on  the  conti- 
nent.   (:{.) 

The  forej;oinp;  are  iii-itcrial  considerations. 
Closely  related  to  tl.es.>  is  .,  topic  of  u  politi- 
cal character.  With  the  extension  of  the  Brit- 
ish Colonial  System,  now  seen  to  be  immi- 
nent, there  is  roiison  to  believo  that  the  gov- 
crn?nentsof  Kiij^landiiiid  the  United  States 
will  consununate  the  recent  seUleinent  of  llio 
pmloiiircd  dispute  in  (.'enlial  America,  by 
an  adjiislment  of  the  liitiu'e  relations  of  the 
JJritish  Provinces  and  American  Slates,  upon  a 
ha.«is  of  mutual  interest  and  good  will.  Such 
an  Inti'rn.itiiuial  conip;u:t  mii^lit  [.rovide  for  a 
Customs  and  I'ostnl  I  iiion  l>el, ween  the  Pro- 
vinces and  tiie  United  State-;.  U  should,  at 
all  events,  stipidate  that  tiie  JLeciproeit}'  'I'rea- 
ty,  enlar.'^cd  in  its  provision:;  and  rencwi'd  for 
!i  loivj;  p'-riod  of  ycai's,  sh'ill  tie  extended  to 
the  I'aeific  Ocean,  and,  in  c>nnc(,'li(>n  there- 
with, all  laws  discrinnnating  between  Ameri- 
«:an  and  foi'ei;;ii  built  vessels  sliou'.d  be  abolisli- 
ed,  cstal)lisliing  freedom  of  navigation  on  all 
the  intermediate  rivers  and  lakes  of  llie  n- 
.spcctive  Territories.  Such  a  polioy  of  free 
trade  and  navigation  with  British  America 
would  give  to  the  United  States,  and  especial- 
ly to  the  Western  States,  all  the  commercial 
advantages,  without  the  political  embarrass- 
ments, of  annexation,  and  would  in  the  sure 
progress  of  events,  relieve  our  extended  Nor- 
thern frontier  from  tiie  horrors  and  injuries  of 
war  between  fraternal  communities. 

Who  can  doubt  that  it  would  be  speedily 
followed  by  overland  mails  and  the  telegraph 
on  the  Pembina  and  Saskatchewan  route, 
and  a  Continental  railroad,  as  advocated  by 
Mauky,  which  England  would  recognize  as 
essential  to  her  interests  in  Northwest  Amer- 
ica and  the  Pacific  coasts  ?     (4.) 

The  above  is  intended  as  an  enumeration, 
by  no  means  as  an  exposition,  of  our  relations 
to  Central  British  America.     I   shall  close 


■  't 


(3.)  See  Appendix  (E.)  for  some  extracts,  slinwing  tbe 
increased  productivene-is  of  plats  near  llie  northern  limit 
of  their  succesafal  growth.  The  extraordinary  returns 
from  the  cereals  sown  at  Selkirk  illustrates  this  climatic 
law. 

(4 .)  The  whole  subject  of  railroad  communication  with 
Asiatic  Oomraerce  is  lumioously  prenented  in  a  communi- 
cation of  Commander  Xtaury  to  Col  n.  A.  Robertson .  Ap- 
pendix (F.)  See  (G.)  an  aVistract  of  intelligence  reppect- 
ing  British  Oolumliia  and  (H)  In  regard  to  a  Pacific  Ocean 
Telegraph. 


this  communication  with  some  note*,  equally 
cursory,  upon  Northern  iMinnesotn. 

1.  The  steamboat  navigation  of  the  Red 
Kiver  of  the  North  will  lie  regular  during  the 
summer  of  ISCtO.  The  Anson  I^orthrup  \)i  in 
cour.se  of  thorough  repair  and  cipiipmcnt. 
Arrangements  are  also  in  progress  for  addi- 
tional steamers  upon  Red  River  and  Lake 
Witmipeg. 

2.  It  is  hoped  and  presumed  Uiat  a  weekly 
mail  to  Pembina  will  he  conceded  by  the  Go- 
vernment of  the  United  States.  The  authori- 
ties of  Assiiiiboia  will  cheerfully  contribute 
to  the  expenditure  retiuisitc  for  such  a  mail 
service. 

."..  The  JiCgislaturo  of  Minnesota  having,  at 
the  present  session,  ailopted  memorials  to  the 
Executive  and  liCgisliitivo  Departments  at 
Washington,  in  favor  of  an  extension  of  the 
iieci[>rocity  Treaty,  in  favor  of  a  military  post 
in  Ilic  valley  of  the  Pembina  River,  and  for 
the  extinction  of  the  fridiaii  title  in  the  north- 
west ]).irtIon  of  Minnes-ota. — I  .shall  not  en- 
large upon  those  topics. 

4.  My  return  trip  from  Pembina,  was  over 
the  probable  extension  (.f  the  branch  line  of 
the  Minnesota  and  I^acific  Railroad,  by  way 
of  the  Cro.ssing  of  Red  Lake  River,  Detroit 
Lake,  and  Otter  Tail  Lake,  to  Crow  Wing. 
For  the  first  eighty  miles  of  this  rmite,  from 
Pembina  to  the  Rapids  which  limit  steamboat 
navigation  from  the  mouth  of  Red  Lake  Riv- 
er, the  trail  follows  a  ridge,  as  distinctly  de- 
iined  as  the  formations  south  of  Lakes  Erie 
and  Ontario,  over  which  pass  the  well  known 
"  Ridge  Roads."  The  vicinity  of  Otter  Tail 
Lake  for  fifty  miles  in  all  directions,  is  unsur- 
passed in  the  combination  of  forests,  small 
prairies,  lakes  and  rivulets,  by  the  most  fa- 
vored sdctions  of  the  State.  I  am  satisfied 
that  the  whole  course  of  the  Leaf  Mountains, 
as  the  divide  between  the  tributaries  of  the 
Mississippi  and  Red  Rivers  is  designated,  will 
be  found  no  less  attractive,  even  to  Red  Lake. 
The  forests  surrounding  this  lake  are  destined 
to  furnish  large  quantities  of  pine  lumber  to 
the  Red  River  settlements. 

5.  On  the  subject  of  coal  deposits,  w^hile  no 
doubt  exists  that  the  sources  of  the  Saskatch- 
ewan traverse  an  extensive  coal  field,  it  is  yet 
uncertain  whether  the  upland  district  which 
separates  the  basins  of  the  Minnesota  and  the 
Red  Rive,  of  the  North  from  those  of  tb^  Up- 


•(i 


9 


i«,  equally 

•  the  Red 
luriiip;  the 
thrup  is  in 
iquipinent. 
s  for  addi- 
and   liftke 

^t  a  weekly 
by  the  Go- 
liu  author!- 
contribute 
ich  a  mail 

liiiving,  at 
iuls  to  the 
•Iments  nt 
ion  of  the 
ilitary  post 
;r,  and  for 
I  the  north- 
ill   not   en- 


pfv  Missouri  iiiiil  ihi' .-uskiiiclicv.'ui,  ;U(.' car- 
boniloroiis.  liy  ;,ll  ;;.'<)l(ij;;iciil  iin!.!M.,y,  .i,  co;,! 
foniiiilion  slioiijd  exist  iK'twcrn  th"  -.nutin;! 
Kystt:in  (irMinnc-sdtii  nini  Si'ikiik,  umi  lu-  cie 

tnCU'UlS  pl;itr;iil  wlii"!l     Ni,'n|!ff     jlciil  Hi,.,!    ru 

the  Mi-Muiii,  (iiH-  \\,,,t  'Vmii,  ,s,.  l';^t,i,  ;u..[ 
which  I'rolcs.sor  I1i\m;s,  ni  ihc  ( '.ni'ii  ian  I'.y. 
plor.'itioii,  tiacrd  nldii  ^  llii-  sun  •  Im  ]\.u\r  ,,s 
far  iio.th.H  latihnli-  ■>:'>  ^  . 

t).     'I'iu'  aljiisiiiii  jl|^^  111,11^.  ;,,  '!,,.  i'\,,;,)iii,  . 
expedition  (■iin(Iiirn..i  iii;(i:r   i|„.  antle.riiv  n| 
Canada,  ju.vtiilis  a  uil.ii^.  to  il;"  /.■mi  anl  in- 
telli,!j;eiice   with    wiiicii    ilu!    entei  .'i  isi^  >  '   m 
Kmi.fi'aiit,   and    Tim  i-port  ition     !' >  Uf,  !i  ;iii 
Fort  \Villi:uri  on  tiic  n  ,rih  .v'loi'e  ni   l/il>,.  Sn. 
porior,  to    Tort  (iarry,  is    pro.viM-iu;l.      With 
thofi^'il  oi':.vuiizati:)ii  ul' Centra'.  lUri-li  Anier- 
ii-a,  a  Wjiijoii  road  between  tlio-e  j)iM,ils,  U.  i)0 
followed   l.y  a  raili'O'id,    will   n-ceive   all  re- 
quisite encoiira,':^eitient,  certainly  from  th  •  ( 'an  • 
adian  Treasury,   p-rhaiis  by  lli;' elii  ■!  nt,  c>)- 
o[)jration   of  the     IIokp:  (ii.verniii: nt.      The 
Xurthwest  Tran.-il,  ('i)ni|)aiiy,  acting;  under  a 
Canadian  cliartd',  but,  understood  to  have  en- 


lite!  Liiidon  caiii;,  di-ii«,  i-i  expected   to  ro- 

■iuiii-  oj.Mi  iii  irs  dnrin.:  the  Mnmiier  of  bsi;i». 

;  TIm'm.  nioveniciitsi.l'.Mir  i'rovincial  nei^rhbor.s 

c  liiii  ,1  r,i|  t',  iiiihi.'iicc  th  •  [)olicy  of  Minnesota 

;  '"  't^"!'  "t   Ml. re  satisfactory  coiniiiiinieations 

than   v.-  ,r  ov  jMisse.s   h..fwi.|'n  \.\kr  Superior 

j  '"' '    •'!'    cliMuncis   ol'  the  Upper    Mississippi 

an.l  ih     if.d  Ijiver  ofilic  \.,rth. 
I        1  d''-ii.',  ill  •■  cidii  ;i,i;i,  to  express  my  obli- 
I  ,4ition.  M,  till  111,!  r,\('cotive  (if  Minnesota,  for 
the  CMiifi,|,.iic,'  iiii;i!i"d  liy  Ihe  coinini-sion,  to 
'.vliich  ihc  f  4\;i)!ii.r  i-;  a  response.      Ilelievin" 
j  hriiily   li.al  ijir  prosperity  an<l  developenient 
;  of  llu;  S'lt  "  is  i:,'i:na!ely  a^so(■ia'.ed  with   the 
<  ii.->iiiiy  wC  \.  r;liv,e-t  Uritisb  America,   I  am 
Si^'a'ili  d    b.  recoid    the  i-apid  coiunirieiice  of 
j  '■.■'•i\{^  whi'.h   iodic  ite   that  llie  frontier,  hith- 
erto ie>tiii|;'   upon    the   sources  of  the  Saint 
I  r.awivnce  and  the   Mi-^sissippi,  is  soon  to  be 
pibhid  r,ir  heyohl  the  International  frontier 
by  !li'  inaich  .,!  An^Io-SuvMn  civihV.ation. 
N'eiy  rcspectluily  submitted, 
Jamiw  W.  Tay[-ou. 


I,  was  over 
ich  line  of 
td,  by  way 
cr,  Detroit 
!row  Wing, 
-oute,  from 
t  steamboat 
1  Lake  Riv- 
;tinctly  de- 
Lakes  Erie 
well  known 
Otter  Tail 
s,  is  unsur- 
■ests,  small 
le  most  fa- 
im  satisfied 
Mountains, 
aries  of  the 
gnated,  will 
)  Red  Lake, 
ire  destined 
!  lumber  to 

ts,  while  no 
le  Saskatch- 
eld,  it  is  yet 
strict  which 
isota  and  the 
le  of  tb'i  Up- 


fjm', 


i  f 


,1 


1 1 


^1f! 


f«R 


,u 


i  \ 


El 


!■ 


'H' 


APPENDIX    ''A;^ 


CENTRAL      BRITISH      A  M  E  R I C  A  . 

From  Ih;  Atlantic  Monthltj  for  Junmry.    \\  V^ 


I'ivcii  before  tlu;  annouiicotncnt  of  tlio  (\W 
covery  of  gold  upon  the  Frazer  llivor  and  its 
trihutai'ios,  tlic  people  of  (Janadii  West  had 
induco(J  tlio  Parliament  of  Knirhmd  to  institute 
the  intiuiry,  whether  tlie  rei:rion  of  Hritisli 
America,  extending  from  Lakes  Snperioi-  and 
Winnipeir  to  tlie  lloeky  Mountains,  is  not 
adapted,  by  fertility  of  soil,  a  favorable  climate, 
and  natural  advantages  of  internal  eomnuuii- 
cntion,  for  the  support  of  a  prosperous  colony 
of  England, 

The  Parliamentary  investigation  had  a  wider 
scope.  The  vselect  committee  of  th.e  House  of 
Commons  was  appointed  '*  tocotisider  the  state 
of  those  Britisii  possessions  in  Nortli  America 
which  are  under  the  administration  of  the 
irudson  Bay  Company,  or  over  which  they 
possess  a  license  to  trade ;"  and  therefore  wit- 
nesses were  called  to  the  organization  and  man- 
agement of  the  Company  itself,  as  well  as  the 
natural  features  of  the  country  under  its  admin- 
istration. 

On  the  vUst  of  July,  iH.")?,  the  committee 
reported  a  large  body  of  tesdmony,  but  witli- 
out  any  decisive  recommendations.  'I'hey 
"apprehend  tnat  the  (districts  on  the  Red  River 
and  the  Saskatchewan  are  among  those  most 
likely  to  be  o  sired  for  early  occupation."  and 
"trust  that  there  will  be  no  diniculty  in  effect 
ing  arrangements  between  her  Majesty's  gov- 
ernment and  the  IFudson  Ray  Company,  by 
which  those  districts  may  be  ceded  to  Canada 
on  equitable  principles,  and  within  the  districts 
thus  annexed  to  her  the  authority  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company  would  of  course  entirely  cease." 
They  deemed  it  "  proper  to  terminate  the  con- 
necJon  of  the  HiKison  l^ay  Company  with 
Vancouver  Island  as  soon  as  it  could  convc 
niently  be  done,  as  tlie  best  means  of  favor- 
ing  tlie  development  of   the   great    natural 


advantages  of  that  important  colony ;  and  that 
means  should  also  be  [)rovidi'd  for  'the  ultimate 
extension  of  tlie  cohiny  over  any  portion  of  the 
adjacent  contineii!.  to  the  wvA  df  the  Rockv 
Mountains,  on  which  peruuuieut  settlements 
nuiy  be  found  praetieahle." 

These  suggestions  indicate  ii  conviction  that 
the  zone  of  the  North  American  continent,  be- 
tween latitudes  4i)  ^  and  ;■).")  °  ,  embracing  the 
Red  River  and  the  Saskatchewan  districts  east 
of  the  Rocky  Mountiiins,  and  the  area  on  then- 
western  slope,  since  orjranized  as  Hrirish  Colum- 
bia, was.  in  the  ju(igment  of  the  committee, 
suitable  for  permanent  settlement.  As  to  the 
territory  north  of  the  parallel  of  hv)° ,  an 
opinion  was  intimated  that  the  organization  of 
the  Hudson  Ray  Company  was  best  adapted 
to  the  condition  of  the  eounfry  and  its  inhabit- 
ants. 

Within  a  year  after  the  jmblication  of  tli(> 
report,  a  great  change  passed  over  th(>  North 
I'acific  coast.  The  gold  discovery  on  the  Fra- 
zer's  River  occurred  ;  the  Pacific  populations 
flamed  with  excitement ;  British  (Jolumbia 
was  prom|)tly  organized  as  a  colony  of  Fngland  ; 
and,  amid  the  acclamations  of  Parliament  and 
people.  Sir  Kdward  Buhver  Tiyt^oii  proclaimed, 
in  the  name  of  the  government,  the  policy  of 
continuous  colonies  from  Lake  Superior  to  the 
Pacific,  and  a  highway  across  British  America 
as  the  most  direct  route  fnun  F-ondon  to  Pekiti 
or  Jeddo. 

Th(^  eastern  bouiidary  of  B-itish  Columbia 
was  fixed  upon  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The 
question  recurred,  with  great  forc(\  what  shall 
be  the  destiny  of  the  fertile  plains  of  the  Sa-;- 
katchewan  and  the  Red  River  of  the  North? 
t^anada  pushed  forward  an  exploration  of  the 
route  from  Fort  William,  on  Lake  Superior,  to 
Fort  Garry,  on  the  Red  River,  and.  under  the 


3HSa 


wmai. 


sm 


t^  ti  TimikAiMP' 


1:2 


direction  ol  S.  J.  D.nvsim,  Ks(|..  (;';vl!  cni'iiiecr, 
and  Professor.).  V.  lliinlc  t;;.v^'  to  \':>'  workl 
an  inipiirtial  ami   impre,--;vi'   .-iiu;iiiui y  ci    tin' 
preat    natural    r^'^^oul■('v:■i  <il'   tlic  liisiii  <•!'   l>;iKc 
Winnipi'^-.     Tin'  in  rrluints  dI  ,\\'\v  York  Wiir 
prompt  to  p'Tfrivf  tliii  advaiitaucs  oI'  c-oiiii'  cl- 
ing the  Krie  Canal  an^l  tin'  great  liuksv.itli 
the  navi<ral»Ie  cliannrls  >>\   Xnrihwe-t  Ativiiri.. 
now  heconu'  proniiiiriil   aii'l  I'aiui'iiiir  iirsi;rna- 
tions  of  cmaincri'ial   LiiOLM'apliy.     A  rcpoiltn 
the   New   Voik    Chainiu!- i.l    rnMiMi.rci' vciy 
distinctly  eorreeted  the  nroiiKi'is   iinnnvsioi!, 
that  the  valiiys  of  tlin  Mi-i->i|)pi  and  St.  Law- 
rence riv.'f.-i  cxiiausii'd  ilir  iKirtlK  rn  ai.ti  rrii'ral 
areas    which     ar.'    avai'aitlc    !'>ii-     a  ;ricullr,:c. 
"  There  is  in  the  heart  of  Xoilli  An.,  rica."  said 
the  report.   ••  a  distincl   si'.iulivisioii.  .>!'  wjiich 
liake  \Viniu|K'U'  may!);'  iv^ard-'d  a-  !lic  (••■iiicr. 
This  subdivision,  like  tla' valley  nf  th.'  Mis.-is- 
sippi.  is  distiiiiiuishcd  for  the  fertility  <<['  [{<  s.i'l, 
ami  fn-  the  extent,  and  uvntlo  slop,'  of  ii-  j'rut 
plains,  watered  by  rivers  of  •j:\v\it   length,  and 
admiral>ly  adapted   Un-  steaai   naviuati'lii.     It 
has  a  cbinate  not  exeeedin';'  in  severi'y  that  ii 
many   portions  of    Canada   and    lln'    !',;i-!' rn 
States,     it  will,  in  all  respei.'ts.  c.anpare  f.seor- 
ably   with   some  of  the  most   den-ely  ])■.■  pied 
portions  of  the  eonlinent  of  Kiirope.     In  oiini' 
words,  it  is  adnurably  lilted  to  beci'ine  tlic  .-eat 
of  a  numerous,  liardy.  and   prespenu-;  eonnnii- 
nity.     It  lias  an  area  eipial  to  ei'.;lir  oi'  !i n  lir-l 
class   American   States.     Its  ureal    river,  the 
Saskatchcuan.  carries  a  navii>al)Ie   water  line 
to  the  very  base  of  the  Jioc!<y  Monh'aiii-.     It 
is  not  at  all  improbable  that  the  valley  of  this 
river  may  yet  offer  the  be.st  route  for  a  railroad 
to  the  I'acilie.     The   iiavi'.v;U)|i'  waii  rs  of  thi;- 
great   subdivision  interlock  with   tli"se  of   the 
Missis.-ippi.     'i'iie  Red   lliver  of  the  Norlli.  in 
connection  with  Lake  \V'i;u!i|ieu'.  into  v.diiv'h  it 
falls.  form>  a   naviuab'e  water  line,   txteiidin.u' 
directly  north  and  south  nearly  ei,!:hl   hundred 
miles.  '  The   lied    River   is   one   of    t!,e   best 
adapted  to  the  use  of  steam  in  the  woild,  and 
waters  one  of  the  iinest  re,u;ions  on  the  C'lntiiient. 
Between  the  liiylust  ]>oinf  at  which  it  is  navi- 
gable, and  St.  Paul,  on  the   Missi.-sippi.  a  rail- 
road is  in   process  of  construction  :    and  when 
this  road  is  completed,  another  <;rand   division 
of   the   continent,    comprisinn'   half   a    million 
square  miles,  will  be  open  to  settlement.'' 

The  sanguine  t(niper  of  those  rem  irks  illus- 
trates the  rapid  profxress  of  ])ublic  sentiment 
since  the  date  of  the  i'arliamentary  inifuiry. 
only  eighteen  months  before.  Of  tlie  same 
tenor,  thouii-li  fuller  in  details,  were  publications 
on  the  subject  in  Canada  and  even  in  England. 
The  year  i8;")l»  opened  with  greatly  augmented 
interest  in  the  district  of  Central  Rritish 
America.  The  manifestation  of  this  intere.--t 
varied  with  localities  and  circumstances. 

In  (."anada  no  opportunity  was  omitted,  eillii;r 
in  Parliament  or  by  the  jiress,  to  demonstrate 
the  importance  to  the  Atlantic  and  Lake  Pro- 
vinces of  extemling  settlements  into  the  prairies 
of    Assinniboin    and    Saskatchewan — thereby 


ail  rui; '.■■  i;  r,  ..nia.'is  to  ri-ovnieuil  eomnicrce 
and  manuia'liires  like  those  vt-hicli  the  commu- 
nilie-;  n|  the  .Mi.-si-..-ip])i  va!i<'y  have  conferred 
upo;i  the  Older  American  S'ate--.  XevertlK-less. 
tlu'  Ca  iadian  gMVemuienl.  declined  to  institute 
]iru'ei  dinus  Iklore  the  I'inglish  Court  oi'  (.."han- 
cery  or  (,)iie(  n's  Bi>nch,  to  <ietermine  th(>  validity 
of  the  charter  o!  tlie  Hudson's  Bay  (Jompany 
— .i-;!.:!iii!?:.  a-  rea;-ons  fir  not  acceding  to  such 
a  -.ert-'e-iien  i;y  the  hiw  oiyicers  of  the  crown. 
t'lat  i;:'-  pi'.e,,...-,|  tiiigation  might  ii;'  greatly 
jtri'tra'-led.  whiie  the  interests  involved  were 
nrirenl — and  tiait  th,-  d'ity  of  a  firompt  and 
deliniie  ailin-'lniept  of  the  copidition  and  re'a- 
tioi;-  i)!'  tilt  lied  River  and  Saskatchewan 
di.-ti'ieis  wa-:  man:fe.--lly  incunilicnt  upon  the 
imperial  antlairity. 

This  deci>ion,  add>  d  to   the    indisposition  of 
Fj)W(  r  Cana'la  to  the    policy  of   westward  e.v- 
;  iKin-itai,  1-    nnileistood   to  have   (.•onvin(;ed  Sir 
Iv  !'..    Lytt(  11  that  annexati(.n  of  the  Winnipe<r 
,  basin  to  I'anada   was   inijiracticaljle,   and  that 
the  exchi-ive  oeenpatien  \r;  the  Hudson's  Bay 
I  (Company  c(>uii|  b.-  ivircved  only  by  the  organ- 
i  izatioo  nf  a  senarr.ie    eole.ny.     'i'lie  founder    of 
ib'itish  Colninliia  ilevol'd  the  latter  portion  of 
Iiis   atiminislr.ilion   of  t!ie    Colonial  Ofiice  to 
measures    lev   tlu'  salisfacti>ry  arrangement  of 
I  coiillicting  interest;-   in    Driti-h    America.     In 
!  Ocloher.  1S.),S,  he  proposi'd  to   the  directors  of 
;  the  !  Indson's  Bav    Ceanpany  that   they  should 
i>L:  consenting   parties    to  a  reference  of  ques- 
tion-r/specling  the  va.lidity  and  extent  of  their 
charter,  and    respecting   tlie   geographical  ex- 
tent, (it  th'ii'  territory,  to  the  dudieial  Coniinit- 
teeofth'   I'rivy  Council.    Tin;  Company  "re- 
a-serted  liieir  riu'.'ht  to  the  pi'ivileges  granted  to 
tlu'iii  by  till  ir    charter  of  incorporation,''  and 
refused  to  be  a   consenting  party   to  any  pro- 
ceediuL;'  which  might  call  in  (|uestioii  their  char- 
tered rich's, 

Cmler  date  of  November  I?,  1^^)S,  Ltn'd 
Caernarvon,  Si.'cietary  of  Stat;'  for  the  Colo- 
nies, by  th(!  direction  of  Sir  K.  B.  Lytton,  re- 
timed a  di-patch,  the  tener  of  wh.ich  is  a  key 
not  only  to  Sir  Iviward's  lin"  oi' policy,  but.  in 
all  probability,  to  that  of  his  successor,  the 
Duke  of  X'ewca-ile.  Lo'.d  Caernarvon  began 
by  ex]ire<sinu'  the  disappoint ment  and  regret 
with  which  Sir  L.  B.  Lytton  had  received  the 
c;>mmnnication,  eontainini;'.  if  he  understood 
its  t"nor  correctly,  a  distinct  refusal  on  the 
part  of  tin.'  Hudson's  i>ay  Company  to  enter- 
tain any  ])ropo.--al  with  a  view  of  adjusting  the 
condicting  claims  of  (jlreat  Britain,  of  Canada 
and  of  the  Company,  or  to  join  with  her  iMaj- 
esty's  government  in  all'ording  rea-'onable  facil- 
ities for  the  settlement  of  thcipustions  in  which 
[ni[)erial  no  less  than  Coloinal  interests  were 
involvccl.  It  had  been  his  anxious  desire  to 
come  to  some  equitable  and  conciliatory  agree- 
ment. i)y  which  all  legitimate  claims  of  the 
Company  should  bi;  fairly  considered  with  ref- 
erence t)  the  tei'i'itories  or  the  privileges  they 
migiit  be  retpiired  to  surrender.  He  suggested 
that  sucli  a  procedure,  while  advantageous   to 


;omtner(;<.' 
c  com  111  u- 
cunlcnvd 

^■(.■rtlu-lcss. 
1  institute 
of  (Miun- 
i(>  viiliilily 
(Jiiinjiany 
l)<r  to  sucli 

lie  crown. 
ly.}  <^vciv\\y 
Ivotl  \vrrc 
•oiunt  iiiul 

uiul  rc'ii- 
Isatc'licwi'ii 

upon   tl;o 

;pnsitioii  oT 
stward  ox- 
iviiiccd  Sir 
Winiiipeir 
'.  aiiil  tliiit 
ilsoii't^  IJay 
'  the  or^;aii- 

foUIl'li'l'    of 

r  portion  of 
.1  Ol'iici'  to 
inp;ement  of 
iniricii.     In 
directors  of 
lliey  should 
ee  of  qiios- 
iMit  nf  Iheir 
iiphical  ox- 
al  C-nninit- 
nipany  "rc- 
1  (granted  to 
atioii.''  and 
to  any  pro- 
n  tlu.'ir  cliiir- 

lNr)8,   Lord 
the    Colo- 
liytton.  re- 
el) is   a  key 
liey.  but.  in 
leeepsfir,  the 
von   bepan 
and  reoret 
received  the 
understood 
usal  on    tlie 
ny   to  entcr- 
vdjustinn'  the 
of  Canada 
h   her  Maj- 
;onable  I'aeil- 
ons  in  which 
t crests   were 
\is   desire  to 
iatory  af^reo- 
ainis   of  the 
■ed    with  ref- 
ivile^es  they 
le  su«rsi'ested 
inta";eou3   to 


the  interests  of  all  parties,  might  prove  partic- 
ularly for  the  interest  of  the  Hudson's  ]^>ay 
Company.  "  It  would  all'ord  a  tribunal  pre- 
eminently fitted  for  the  dis|)assionate  consider- 
ation of  the  (|uestions  at  issue;  it.  would  secure 
11  decision  which  would  probably  be  rather  of 
the  nature  ot  an  arbitration  than  of  u  judg- 
ment ;  and  it  would  furnish  a  basis  of  negotia- 
tion on  which  reciprocal  coiieessioii  and  the 
claims  for  compensation  could  be  most  succesa- 
fully  discussed." 

With  such  persuasive  reiteration,  Lord  Caer- 
narvon, in  the  name  and  at  the  instance  ol'8ir 
K.  15.  l.ytton.  insisted  that  the  wisest  and  most 
diniiifn  d  course  would  bo  found  in  an  appeal 
to  and  a  decisiim  by  the  Judicial  (Joinmittee 
of  the  Privy  Council,  with  the  concurrence 
alike  of  Canada  and  the  iludsou's  j'ay  ("om- 
])any.  In  conclusion,  the  (,V)mpany  were  once 
moi'e  assured,  that,  if  they  would  meet  Sir  K. 
J}.  Lytton  ill  finding  the  solution  of  a  recog- 
nized diiliculty,  ami  would  undertake  to  give 
all  reasonable  facilities  for  trying  the  validity 
of  tiieir  disputed  charter,  they  might  be  assured 
that  they  would  m.eet  with  fair  and  liberal 
treatment,  so  far  as  her  Majesty's  government 
was  concerned  ;  but  if  on  the  other  hand,  the 
Company  persisted  in  declining  these  terms, 
and  could  suggest  no  other  jiracticable  mode 
of  agreement,  Xir  1'.  B.  J.ytton  held  himself  ac- 
quittcd  of  further  responsibility  to  the  interests 
of  the  Company,  and  proposed  to  take  the  nec- 
essary steps  tor  closing  a  controversy  too  lonu' 
open,  and  for  securing  a  delinite  decision,  due 
alike  to  the  material  develoimient  of  British 
North  America  and  to  the  reiiuiremcnts  of  au 
ailvancing  civilization. 

The  communication  ot  Lord  Caernarvon 
stated  ill  addition,  that,  in  the  case  last  sup- 
posed, the  renewal  of  the  exclusive  license  to 
trade  in  any  part  ot  the  Indian  territory— a 
renewal  wliich  could  be  jiislitied  to  Parliauunt 
only  as  a  part  of  a  general  agreement  adjusted 
on  the  principles  of  mutual  concession — wouhl 
become  impossible. 

These  representations  failed  to  influence  the 
Company.  The  l)ej)uty-Governor,  Mr.  IL  11. 
liarens,  responded,  that,  as,  in  1850,  the  (!om 
pany  had  assented  to  an  iiuiuiry  before  the 
Privy  (Council  into  the  legality  of  certain  jiow- 
ers  claimed  and  exercisM  by  tiiem  under  their 
charter,  but  not  (|uestioning  the  validity  of  the 
cliarter  itself, , so,  at  this  time,  if  the  reference  to 
the  Privy  Council  were  restricted  to  the  ques- 
tion of  the  treograi)hical  extent  of  the  territory 
claimed  by  the  ('ompany,  in  accordance  with 
a  proposition  made  in  July,  1857.  by  Mv. 
Tiabouchere.  then  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
(,'olonies,  the  directors  would  reconmieiid  to 
their  shareholders  to  concur  in  the  course  sug- 
gested ;  but  must  decline  to  do  so,  if  the  iiutui- 
ry  involved  not  merely  the  (lucstion  of  the  geo- 
graphical Itoundary  of  the  territories  claimed 
by  them,  but  a  challenge  of  the  validity  of  the 
charter  itself,  and,  as  a  consequence,  of  the 
rights  and   privileges  which   it  professed  to 


grant,  and  svliich  ihe  ('(mipaiiy  had  exercised 
for  a  period  of  marly  two  liundred  years.  Mr. 
Parens  professeil  that  tl;e  Coinpany'luid  at  all 
times  been  willing  to  entertain  any  proposal 
that  might  be  made  to  thein  fi.r  the  surrender 
of  any  of  thoir  rights  or  of  any  portion  of  their 
territory;  but  he  regarded  it  as  one  thing  to 
consent  for  a  consideration  lo  be  agreed  u]ioii 
to  the  surrender  of  admitted  rights,  and  f|uit(! 
another  to  volunteer  a  consent  to  an  inquiry 
which  should  call  those  ritihts  in  (juestion. 

A  result  of  this  correspondence  has  been  the 
detiuitt,'  refusal  of  the  Crown  to  renew  tlie  ex- 
clusive license  to  trade  in  Indian  territory  — 
The  license  had  been  tvvico  granted  to  the 
('ompany,  u.ider  an  act  of  Parliament  authori- 
zing it,  for  periods  of  twenty-one'  years — once 
in  1821,  and  again  in  ]8;5>^,  ft  expired  on  the 
oOtli  of  Mav,   Jb5'.).     In    consi(|nciice   of   this 

•    ■  elv 


refusal,  the  Company  must  depi'iid   oxclusiv 
upon  the  terms  of  theii- charter  fbrtiieir  sjiecial 
l)rivileges  in    I^ritish    Anu'ri'-a.     The    eliiirtia' 
(iates  from  KiTO — a  grant    l>y    Charles   II.  to 
Prince  Ilupert  and  his  associates,  "  adventurers 
01  Knglaiu!,  trading  i!i  iruilson's  Kay" — and  is 
claimed  to  'j-ive  the  right  of  exclusive  trade  and 
of  territorial   dominion    to  iJiu^on's   jjay  and 
tributary  rivers.     i'>y  tlie  expiration  of  the  o\- 
clusivi'  lic(-nse  of  Indian  trade,  and  the  termina- 
tion in  iSoU  of  the  lease  of  Vancouver's  Island 
from  the  Urilish  government,  the  sway  and  in- 
fluence of  the  Coni[)any  aiC   greatly  restricted, 
'  and  the  fi?asibility  of  some   ])erinanent   adjust- 
j   ment  is  proporlioiuitely  increased. 
I       'i'liere  is  no  iieces>ilv  for  I'l-peatiiii''  here  the 
voluminous  argument  for  and  against  thechar- 
I  ter  of  the  Iludsou's   Bay    Company,     The   in- 
1  terest   of  U"itish   colonization    in    Northwest 
j  America  fiir  transcends  any   technical   iiKjuiry 
!  of  the  kind,  and  the   Canadian   statesmen   are 
■   wise  in  declining  to  relieve  the  l';na'lisli  cabinet 
from  the  obligation  to  act  deiinitely  and  speedi- 
ly npen  the  subject.     The   iii'i^anization  of  the 
I  East   India   Company   M'as   no   obstacle  to  a 
j  measure  demanded    by  t!i(!   honor  of   Kngland 
and    the   welfare  of  India  ;  and    certainly   the 
parchment  of  the  Second  Charles  will    iu)t  de- 
ter any  deliberate  expression  by  Parliament  in 
;  regard  to  the   coionization  of  Central    British 
I   America.     Indeed,  tlie    managers  of  the  Hud- 
!  son's  Iliy  Company  are  ahvays  careful  to  rec- 
ognize the  probability  of  a   compromir'e  with 
the  goecrnment.     'I'l.e  late  letter  of  .Mr.    Bar- 
rens to  Lord  Caern.irvon   expressed  a   willing- 
ness, at  any  time,  to  entertain  proposals  for  the 
surrender  of  franchises  or    territory  ;  and    in 
1848,  Sir  J.  II.  Pel'y.  Governor  of  the  Com- 
pany, thus  expressed  himself  in  a  kitter  to  Lord 
Crey :     ••  As    far   as  1  am    concerned,    (and  I 
think  the  Company    will    concur,  if  anv  great 
national  beiK-lit  would  lie  ('Xpected  from  it,)   I 
would  be  willing  to  relih((uish  thi!  wlK)le  of  the 
territory   held  under   the    charter  on    similar 
terms  to  those  which  it  is   proposed  the   East 
India  Company  shall  receive  on  the  expiration 
of  their  charter — namely,  securing  the  proprie- 


14 


tors  ail    intci'ist   on    llirir   cupilal    o;'  U'li  {kt 
cent." 

At  the  adjnunmioiit  of  tlu'  ("aiiiulian  I'ar- 
liivnicnt  aiiil  riio  rctinMiiciit  ol'  tin-  Drilty  ,M mis- 
try,  in  the  cariy  part  of  18.")!),  tlic  position  iind 
])i"ospocts  of  I'iniriish  colonization  in  Xorlliwcst 
Aim^rioa,  were  as  follows : 

1.  Vanc'onvcr's  Jsluuil  ami  Britisli  (Johiinbia, 
had  passodfrom  tlic  occupation  of  the  Iind- 
son's  ];ay  ("unipany  into  an  illicicnt  colonial 
organization.  'I'll'.'  ;Ti'Id  iii^'ids  of  tiio  interior 
had  occn  iiscortuincd  loc(|nal  in  produijlivotu'ss, 
and  cvrcally  to  cxcivti  in  extent,  those  of  Cali- 
fornia, 'i'lii!  prospect  for  n'-^ricuiture  was  no 
less  favorable — whiio  the  co'.nniercial  iniport- 
nnco  of  Vancouver  and  the  ir.iritors  of  {.'ugof:} 
Sound  is  un(|ucstiona'o''.'. 

2.  'i'he  eastern  siooe  of  tiie  Roeicy  Moun- 
tains {\nd  the  valleys  ot  the  ^^askutcile\van  and 
lied  liiver  wore  shown  !)y  exphvjitions,  con- 
ducted under  the  auspices  of  the  London  (leo- 
graphical  Society  ami  tlie  Canuduuiaathorities. 
to  be  a  district  of  nearly  four  hundi'ed  tliousand 
square  niiies.  in  which  a  fertile  soil,  favorable 
climate,  useful  and  precious  minerais,  fur-bear- 
in,;>'  and  food  yieidinu'.  animals,  in  a  word,  tiie 
most  lavish  {iit'is  of  Nature,  constituted  hiirlily 
satisfactory  conditici,-  for  thi>  organization  and 
setlknrient  of  a  prosperous  crimnnuiily. 

o.  In  re^-an-d  to  the  ifralscsn's  IJay  Com- 
pany, a  disposition  prevailed  not  to  disturb  iis 
charter,  on  comiiiion  tiiat  its  directory  nuule 
no  attempts  to  enforce  an  c.\clusi\-e  trade  or  in- 
terfere witii  the  prou'ress  o'i  settlements.  A.I1 
parties  anticipated  rarlium'.nitary  action.  L'.'t- 
ters  from  London  spoke  with  coniidence  of  a 
bill,  drafted  and  in  circulation  amoui?  members 
of  Farliam<;nt.  for  the  erection  of  a  colony  be- 
tween Lukes  .Superior  and  Winnipeg'  and  the 
eastern  limits  of  Uritish  (,V)himbia,  with  a 
northern  boundary  rcstina'  on  the  ])arallel  of 
oh^ ;  and  which,  althoup:;!  postponed  by  u 
clianyfc  of  ministry,  was  understood  to  represent 
the  views  of  the  l')uke  of  Newcastle,  the  succes- 
sor of  Sir  ]•].  r<.  Lytton. 

4,  In  Canada  West,  a  system  of  communi- 
cation from  Fort  William  to  Fort  Garry,  and 
thence  to  the  Pacitic,  was  intrust;.d  to  a  com- 
pany— the  "Northwest 'I'ransit'' — which  was  by 
no  means  inactivi'.  A  mail  to  ]o'd  liiver 
over  the  same  route,  was  also  sustained  from 
tl'.e  Canadian  treasury  ;  and  Farliament,  among 
the  acts  of  its  previous  session,  had  conceded  a 
charter  for  a  line  of  telegraph  through  the  val- 
leys of  the  Saskatchewan,  with  a  view  to  an  ex- 
tension to. the  Facilic  coast,  and  even  to  Asiatic 
Russia. 

Simultaneously  with  these  movements  in  V.uix- 
land  and  Canada,  the  citizens  of  the  State  ot 
Minnesota,  after  a.  winter  ol  active  discuss'o:!, 
aimounced  a  determination  to  introduce  steam 
navioation  on  the  Red  Fiiver  of  the  North. — 
Parties  were  induced  to  transport  the  machinery 
and  cabins,  with  timber  for  ihe  hull  of  a  steam- 
er, from  the  Upper  ]Mississip|)i.  near  (Jrow 
Wing,  to  the  mouth  of  the   Shayenne,  on  the 


lied  River,  where  the  Iniat  was  reconstructed. 
The  first  voyage  of  the  steamer  was  from  Fort 
Aiiei'cnunbie.    lui  Anterican  post  two  hundred 
miles  northwest   of  St.    I'uul,  drnvn  north  to 
Fort    (Jarry,    during  the    month  of   June. — 
'I'iie  reception  of  th(*  strauirer  was  attended  by 
extraordinary  demonstrations  of  enthusiasm  at 
Selkirk,     'i'he   bells   of  Saint    JJoniface  rang 
greeting,  and  ]''ort  (tarry  blasted  powder,  as  if 
I  the  ( Governor  of  the  Company  were  approach- 
1  in'J!'  its    porta',     'i'liis   nniipie.   but    interesting 
I  community,   fully    ai)preciated    the   fact   that 
!  steam  had    broui^ht   their  interests  within  Lhe 
j  circle  of  the  world's  activities. 
I       Tills  incident    was   the  legitinuile  se(iuel  to 
I  events  in  i\linnesota  which  had  transpired  du- 
j  ring  a  period  of  l(^n  yrai's.     <.)rganized  as  a  ter- 
I   ritory  in  1H4!),  a  single  deeaile  had  l)rouj;htthe 
])0])uiation.  the  resources,  and  the  jmblic  recog- 
I  nition  of  an  American  State.     A  railroad  .sys- 
1  tern,  comi-'cting  the   lines   of  the  Lake  States 
I  and  rrovinces  at  Jja  (Jrosse   with   the  inlerna- 
I  tiop.al  frontier  on   the  Red  River  at  Pemliina, 
I  was  not  only  jirojected,  but  had  secured  in  aid 
fif  its  c  iisti'uction  a  grant  by  the   (Jouifress  of 
the  United  Stiites  of  th.rw)  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  foi'ty  acres  a  mile,  and  a  loan  of  State 
credit  to  the  amount  (*!' I  weiity  thousand  dollars 
a  mile,  not  e.veeediny  an  ie.vi;;iTgale  of  live  mil- 
lion dollars.     Rlil'^rent   section-;  of  this  impor- 
tant extension  of  the  Cunadian  and  American 
railways  were  uiider  contract  ami  in  process  ot 
consh'uction.     Jn  addition,  tlie  land  surveys  of 
the  Federid  Government  had  reached  the  navi- 
irab'e  Ciiannel  of  the  Red  River;  and  the  line 
of  frontier  settlement,  attended  by  a  weekly  mail, 
had  advanced   to  the   same    point.     Thus   the 
(.Tovernment  of  the  Uiuti'd  States,  no  less  than 
the  ])eopIe  and  authorities  of  Minnesota,  were 
represented  in  tlie  Northwest  movement. 

Stiil.  its  consummation  rests  with  the  people 
and  parliament  of  Enirland.  Sir  Kdvvard  IJul- 
wer  Lytton  was  prepared  with  a  response  to 
h  s  own  memorable  cpiery — '•  WHiat  will  he  do 
with  it?"  Shall  the  Liberal  Party  be  less 
])rompt  and  resolute  in  advancing  the  policy, 
announced  from  the  throne  in  ISoS,  ofan  unin- 
terrupleil  scries  ot  Rritish  colonies  across  the 
contint  nt  ol  North  America  ?  This  will  be  de- 
termini'd  by  the  Parliamentary  record  of 
18G(). 


[It  will  be  .seen  from  the  following  report  of 
a  debate  on  the  Rritish  Parliament,  received 
since  the  feiregoin^'  papers  were  in  type,  that 
the  expectiition  of  a  speedy  colonial  organiza- 
tion beyond  Minnesota,  is  likely  to  bo  realized 
at  an  early  day  :] 

THE  RK©  mVER  SETTLEMENT. 

Ilousii  Ol''  Commons,  Feb.  13. 

The  Earl  of  Carnarvon  in<piired  what  was 
the  intention  of  I  ler  Majesty's  government  with 
regard  to  the  administration  of  tl.c  Red  River 
Settlement  and  those  parts  of  the  Saskatchewan 


\{ 


16 


Divitnicted . 
from  Fort 

0  Imndred 

1  nor  Ik  to 
t'  June. — 
t  tended  by 
Imsiiism  at 
lil'iico  raiip- 
iwder,  aa  iC 
;  approach- 

interesting: 
!  fact  that 
within  Lhe 

d  «'((uel  to 
mspiiod  dn- 
u\\  as  a  ter- 
liroutiht  tlie 
uiilie  reco<>;- 
'iiiii'iiad  sy,s- 
".ake  States 
the  interna- 
it  Pemliina, 
Hired  in  aid 
(Jon<,'ress  of 
{[  eiglit  hun- 
>an  of  State 
sand  dollars 
of  iive  mil- 
this  inipor- 
1   American 
111  process  ot 
d  surveys  of 
led  the  navi- 
and  the  line 
weekly  mail, 
Thus   the 
no  less  than 
nci^ota,  were 
ment. 

I  the  people 
vlward  liul- 
i  response  to 
at  will  he  do 
irty  be  less 
the  policy, 
>,  of  an  unin- 
?s  across  the 
lis  will  be  de- 
record    of 


ing-  report  of 
lent,  received 
in  type,  that 
lial  organiza- 
bo  realized 


lElTIENT. 

Feb.  13. 

■cd  what  was 
eminent  with 
lie  Red  River 
Saskatchewan 


district  recommended  l)y  the  oonimiliee  of  tlio  j 
House  of  Commons  in  IH.Vr  to  be  withdrawn  | 
from   the  jurisdiction   ot  the    Hudson's    Jilay  ] 
Company.     'I'iio  noble  earl  stated  that  on  lii"  ' 
Hist  of  .May  last  the  exclusive  iiccnci'  to  ;rnde  , 
which   had  bci'n  j^raiil.'d  to   ihe  liudson'.;  ]}:iy  | 
Company  expired,  and  tin;  coiiipaiiy  itec<ptcd  j 
the  serious  rcsponsibiliiy  of  deeiininy;  to  rcr.ex'.' 
it  upon  any  other  tcr.ns  tlian  tliosi'  on  whi'jh  j 
they  had  previously  iivid  it.     liUtri'  in  tiie  yeai'  j 
the  government  wisely  to!>k  );o\v(r.s  under  s'.n  | 
Act  for  the  appointniciit  of  niu'ji-trales  in  the 
Ri'd    River   .Soltli'iii'/iit    and   ]>;!i'ls  i.'l    the  Sas- 
katchewan  districts,  iu.d   fi,r  svcurin.;'  a  more 
etiective  system  of  criminal  administration.  Jle 
wished  to  know  whether  any,  and  if  any,  what 
steps  had  been  adopli  d  und'.'r  that  Act.     Com- 
munications which  had  reached  him  iVom  vari- 
ous ([U.irters   led  him  to  iear  that  the  ]i"i'sent 
state  of  the  Ueil  lUver  Svlt  icmml  was  one  citlcu- 
lated,  to  say  ilie  lea.Tr.  to  cause  soini;  uneasines-. 
First  of  all,  there  was  a  stronj,'  'beliiip:  of  di:-sat- 
isfaction  on  the  part  of  th(^  colonists  themselves, 
and  he  nii^ht  stale  that  dai'in;.',' t'se  flior;  ii)iv.' 
he  had  connexioji  wii'i  tlie  Coloiiiul  ()l'ii"'>.  two 
petitions  were  received  IVom  the  inludiitanis  o! 
the  settlement,  pr;iyi:i;r  for  e.vten-'ive  alterations 
in  the  form  of  '.'-ovorMment  nvA  /.'■eniTal  sy-tmn 
of  administration.      Sei-ondiy,  the  .si'ltli-inent 
had  been  entered  by  a  iarue  number  of  ( 'anadi- 
uns,  who  refused  to  i)ay  duties  on  the  iiround 
that  they  were  not  leviable  fiom  them,  and  i'l- 
trodueed  sjiirits   amonu'  the   .Indians,   t'aieby 
contributing'  to  their  demoralizatioit.      .Mort,'- 
over,  the  same  persons,  by  disti'ibutin:;'  th'^'Ui- 
selves  over  jrronnd  not  be':oni>:i!i;;'  to  the  H"d 
River  Settlement,  were  rai.-inL;'  a  (luestion  of 
great  legal  nicety,  whicli  ouuht  not  to  be-  iL'tcr 
mined  in  such  an  invgular  manner,     i/istly, 
(luring   the  past  year  American  citizens  had 
crossed  tiie   borders  in  ce'nsidei'able  numbers, 
introduced  spirits,  esta'>lished  an  unlicensed  and 
irregular  trade,  and   \vi;re  jiracticediy  nrdcv  no 
sort  of  control  or  autiiorily  whatever.     1  (e  was 
not  afraid    of  American   coloni/ation   in  that, 
part  of  the  worl;!.  wiiieh  present(>d  ati  ample 
field  for  energy,  industry,  and  specuhit'iai  of  all 
kinds.     Even  in  the  ca^c  of  J:>ritish  Co!uni''ia, 
which  pos'-essed  special  attractions,  he  en'uTiaia- 
cd  little  apprehension,  because  he  b:'IIeved  t'l't 
the  same  sense  of  law  ji-hI  order,  and  the  same 
'  "dieiice  to  on-tiiiifed  i'P.tlioi-ity  which  pro- 
vailed  in  every   put  v.Tjre  tlie  Aii:rlo-H;i."en 
race  had  tak'-n  ro.;|-.  would  bedisiilaycd  in  that 
recently  established  community.  I'uthe  viewed 
the  Red   River  Settlement  in  a  dilKrent  light, 
and  he  should  esteem  it  a  grievous  Misfortune 
if.  from  any  omission  on  the  part  of  the  JTome 
(lovernmen't  or  uf   the  kx-al   authorities,  the 
sympathies  ot  the  settlement  slioidd  be  alieirat- 
ed  from  tlie  Crown,  and,  cut  off  as  it  was  from 
all  eommunieafion  witli  Th'itisli  North  Ameri- 
ca, it  should   turn  rather  towards  the  ITnited 
States  than  towards  Canada.     Then^  were  two 
roads  which  connected  the  Rr;l  River  .Settle- 
ment with  our  possessions  in  Xorth   America, 
but  they  were  little  used,  and,  indeed,  v;ere  im- 


practicable diu'ing  the  greater  part  of  the  year; 
whereas  the  roail  which  connected  the  settle- 
ment with  theterritery  be'onginfrto  the  United 
States  was  a  gooi!  one,  an  1  was  the  route  by 
which  the  largest  amount  <  f  trallic  was  carried 
nil.  Tjast  suniin"r  trade  to  tlie  amount  of  ■'?1,- 
.')(I0,0(I()  passed  b-  tween  the  Red  Itiver  Settle- 
ment and  tlie  LInit'.d  Sl;.les  :  a  small  steamer 
liad  been  yeaced  on  ihe  Red  River  in  order  to 
liieilitale  tiie  iraftie.  and.  upon  the  whole, he  was 
afraid  t'le  teiuleney  in  ihe  Settlement  was  tow- 
ards a  eomiexiun  with  the  /.nierican  Republie. 
This  wa-i  a  wry  important  ((uestion,  and  tlie 
]ii'esenl  time  v,;is  a  in^'Sf  critical  one.  so  much 
so  that  upon  the  conduct  of  the  Colonial  Secre- 
tary durinu'  Ihe  'vxt  fe'.v  years  it  might  ilepend 
what  s'loulil  be  tee  nltinrite  d'\=-Uny  of  this  col- 
onv.  1  le  did  nut  advoe;tte  thi'  payment  of  any 
sums  out  of  tip.  Imperial  exeheiiaer  to  attain 
tl;e  ohi'>cfs  wliieh  l;e  had  in  view  :  but  he  tie- 
1  lieved  liint  this  vras'a  (juestion  rather  of  poli- 
ey  than  n'J  expenditure,  and  thai  much  might  be 
a  .■:.'onir)lisiir'd  bv  a  jiulicions  exercise  ot  the  iu- 


iieiur  ' 


if  the  ( '■ 


'!'">!  lial 


( )'}]( 


"le  noble  earl 


concluded  by  asking  the  (luestions  of  whieh  lie 
had  given  notice. 

TlieDnke  of  Xewcastic  said  that.witli  refer- 
once  to  w!':it  l.i'.d  hithei'lo  been  the  licensed  ter- 
ritory i)f  iiie  '  jn;;-;':ii"s  Ihiy  Company,  the  gov- 
ernment of  that  company,  although  Iheoretieally 
swept  away,  yet  practically  remained  in  force. 
'I'ho  posts  of  tlie  company  conlinuei!  in  exist- 
ence, and,  as  tii'.>  Jiiri-.iietion  of  tlie  company 
was  of  u  very  primitive  ami  patriarchal  kind, 
not  fonncVd  upon  any  exact  form  of  law,  it  had 
in  fact,  s'.u'vlveil  t':e  expiry  of  tl;e  license,  lie 
was  satisfied  I'sat  the  less  we  disturbed  the  pre 
sent  velationr,  between  the  hluroiieans  and  liali- 
breeds  :uid  tiie  nitivc  Indians  the  better,  and 
therefore,  although  many  gentK'men  had  oU'ered 
tiieir  services,  l.o  lual  not  yet  exercised  the 
p)wer  (  :'  appoinliiu"  magistrat'^s  which  was 
ei'oih'red  upon  him  by  tli;'  Act  of  last  session  ; 
nor  should  he  do  so,  imlj^s  the  introduction  of 
siiirits  among  tho  Indian--,  t  r  other  irregulaii- 
lies  or  dioovders,  should  render  it  neccs-iiry.- - 
Yv'illi  regard  1o  the  Red  River  and  Saskatche- 
wan dislricls,  no  information  of  such  serious 
character  as  tiioso  mentioned  by  the  noble  earl 
liad  ber-n  received  at  the  Colonial  Office.  Ca!i- 
Uilinns  a..'  ■Vinericnr<s  had.  i.o  doubt,  crossed 
the  l'rc>7itier?!.  r>ut  nothing  had  occurred  to  leatl 
the  authoriiif'S  to  npyirehend  any  evil  conse- 
(•[uence  from  the  presence  of  either  one  or  ths^ 
other  class  of  p'>rsons.  Xo  dednite  sieps  had 
yet  been  taken  \Yith  regard  to  these  settlements. 
iri:!  iiolilo  frieml  knew  how  little  information 
there  existed  until  lately  as  to  the  land  which 
WIS  !iv;iilable  for  cf>!oni/.ation.  It  w.as  not  till 
within  t!u!  last  three  or  four  v/eeks  that  he  had 
vec(,'ived  the  concludiui"  jiortion  of  Capt.  Har- 
ris'report,  and  he  had  still  later  been  put  in 
possession  of  the  important  document  prepared 
by  Mr.  Dawson  of 'I'oronto,  which  did  so  much 
credit  to  that  gentleman,  a  native  of  Canada 
and  a  mendier  eif  its  Legislature.  Another  im- 
portant reason  for  not  coming  to  any  immedi- 


16 


i< ' 


ii*'^ 


:itc  decision  on  tliirf  (|uostiou  was  the  dilliculty 
iiH  to  cominuiiicalion  with  tlio  scttioiiients.— 
Tlv-ro  wciv  only  iUw".  niodos  of  iircoss--ono 
IVom  llic  north  :  'Hie  t'roni  the  south  tla'oiii-^h  the 
torritorv  ol'  the  L'nitod  Sliites ;  und  oni'  from  tiio 
cast,  tlirou^h  Cainulu.  It  wus  of  <>reat  hnpni'- 
taneo  that  these  teri-itoriis  slioulil  be  colonized 
by  British  su'iject.-!.  ami  tliut  evrry  lucility 
siiould  l)e  oiven  fur  the  fiillot  aeetss  to  theni. 
The  sclieine  advocated  by  Mr.  Oawsoii  in  his 
report  wa-;.  he  ;!ioiiuht.  th''  most  likely  to  tend 
to  the  coloni;';ation  and  setilcnuMit  of  these  dis- 
trict.s  that  could  be  devisi'd.  I]>;fore  iinythin;' 
conld  1)0  done,  however,  Inr  the  i'nt are  settle- 
ment of  tlRW  districts,  it  was  necessary  to  make 
some  an-an-emeiit  with  the  ITud^^on's  ]'>ay 
(Jompany.  it  was  his  desire  Id  arrive  at  such 
a  settlement  bv  aniieal)!''  nu'aiis.  and  he  lioped 
to  be  able  to  do  so.  rui.ers  were  published 
last  session   containing  a  corasiionilence  bo- 


twcon  the  Colonial  oflice  and  tlio  lIiid.son'.s  Huy 
Company,  in  which  the  company  expressed  u 
willihLniess  to  yield  upon  ecinitable  terms, either 
immediately  or  Ijy  deizrees,  the  jnrisdiclioii  over 
tliesi'  t'vo  settlements— the  Red  River  and  the 
^5  I'katchewan  districts,  with  a  view  to  their 
colonization  under  Imperial  auspices.  It  was, 
of  course,  necessary  to  ascertain  what  these 
equitable  ternn  w'ere.  and  he_  intended  to  put 
hunself  into  communication  with  the  fludson's 
Ray  Company,  in  order  to  see  whether  the  ter- 
ritory in  (luestion  could  not  be  surrendered  to 
the  (lovernment  without  litis^^ation  or  dispute. 
The  next  step  would  be  to  establish  some  form 
of  rrovcrnment  in  these  settlements,  which,  in 
the  first  instance,  ought  to  l)e  as  simple  and  as 
inexpensive  as  possible.  It  was  desirable  that 
lesfislation  should  take  ])lace,  if  possible,  during 
the  present  session  ou  this  subject. 


jr 


APPENDIX    '']]r 


GEOaRAPITICAL  MEMOIR  OF  THE  KEO  RIVER  AND  SAS- 
KATCHEWAN DIS'IRICT  OF  P.RH/SII  AMIOUKW. 


Extrort  from  licport  of  a  Committee  of  t/is  St.  Bad  Chamher  of  Coi,ur,crcc,  ./;«.  22,  Js.lO. 


The  iii'ca  compviiJ'vl  within  tin-  viv;  r>.  lmii- 
verfj^iiiii:  to  Laku  Winiiipey;  is  (stiniuk'il  to 
contain  4()(),000  siiuarc  miles.  Familiar  •.\<  Hie 
American  public  is  with  the  proirrcss  of  Mis- 
sissippi States,  tiie  Commitlce  aiv  iiii'liiicd  to 
revic'.v  tiie  bas'.n  of  Lake  Wiiinipeii'  liom  our 
western  staiul-poiiit,  of  its  capacity  to  lie 
divided  and  occupied  us  Stales  or  I'roviiiccs. 
each  havin;;'  an  uveraii'e  uvea  oi'  yO.llOl)  S(|uare 
juiles.  ntartinu',  therefore,  from  that  point  of 
the  Western  bomidary  of  ]\liiuu'sota.  wliieh  is 
now  or  may  be  improved  to  become  the  liead 
of  steamboat  naviuation  on  the  Red  liiv(>i', 
the  indulirenco  of  tlie  ('liainbcr  is  a-^ked,  wiiile 
we  proceed  in  convenient  subdivisions-,  to  ^ronp 
a  consideral)le  number  of  facts,  treo'ivaphical 
and  otherwise,  demonstratinix  the  iiiture  impor- 
tance of  that  river  naviiration  which  is  to  be 
the  avenue  to  tlie  vast  district  inclosed  between 
latitudes  49  de;?.  and  o.")  defr.,  and  extendinp- 
from  the  shores  of  I^akc  Winnipeg  to  the 
Hooky  Mountains, 

TIIK  AMERICAN  VAfJ-EY  OV  TilK  RKD  RIVER. 

Of  this  district,  Lac  Traverse  in  one  direc- 
tion, and  Otter 'J'ail  Lake  in  a  lino  nearer  north 
from  Saint  Paul — cither  point  not  more  than 
two  hundred  miles  distant — may  be  regarded 
as  its  extreme  southern  limits  ;  Pembina  and 
the  international  frontier,  the  Northern,  while 
the  longitude  of  Red  Lake  on  the  l-last,  and  of 
Minnewakan  or  Spirit  Lake  on  the  A\'est,  arc 
convenient  designations  of  the  remaining  boun 
daries.  This  area  would  extend  I'rom  aVtout 
lat.  46  to  49,  and  from  longitude  !),")  iiO  to  99 
deg. 

Capt.  Pope,  in  his  exploration  of  1849,  re- 
marks that  for  fifty  miles  in  all  directions 
around  Otter  Tail  Lake,  is  the  garden  of  the 
Northwest.  The  outlet  of  the  Lake,  constitut- 
ing the  source  of  the  Red  River  of  the  North, 


ha,;  iHen  v.'i'v  '''ivoraMy  (IcsiTi'n'd  liv  Dr. 
Owen,  oi' the  ruiteil  Stat.''".-!  (looioiric.il  Sur- 
vey. It,  ])i'>'sen!s  a  sai'crs.=ion  of  lak; -•  and 
rapids,  whi'e  at  nthfi'  point- rollinu' jiraii'ii'-;  e\- 
tend  from  iis  banks,  (•r',-;ti(l  'vitii  l)i'antii'ii!ly 
di?p,r-'cd  <;rov>s  of  timber.  Tt  wa«  in  thi,-; ';','c- 
tioii  of  Minne-^vita,  that  I  he  luau'iusian  lime 
stone  coiitainina'  silnrian  fnssii-;.  idcnti'-al  with 
those  in  the  fihill'-;  oi'  llio  Missi-sii«])i  b,liiw  St. 
Paid,  was  recoLvnizi'd  by  Dr.  (>»vin  /•>  .v'"  — 
showing  Miat  tlie  priitiary  forn.'ation.  wliicli 
dividi's  ^linr)i'-^o!;i  from  Xovlhea^t  to  South- 
west, is  saci;"i'(h'd  to  l!;e  Nortliwcst  by  tlic 
ascend! n.'.';  series  of  ^■eilimentavy  roclcs 

Many  ui'  our(iiize;is  have  i'ih  i|!ieiitly  trav- 
ersed the  district  y.\--i.  i.aui.i!.  and  t'uii'  testi- 
mony i.-.  l!)at  'We.-iward  fniu  OiUr  'i'ail  Lake 
for  at  least  one  lauidred  m'les,  and  Nort]i',va,rd 
(o  Ked  Lake,  if  not  bcyorid.  w)  more  favorable 
distribution  of  beautifid  prairies  and  Ibnsts 
can  be  im;v.;'ined.  'I'lie  lakes  are  numerous 
but  small,  and  ahnost  invariably  skirted  with 
tindjer,  tlie  sugar  ma;)le  largely  preponderat- 
ing. Seidoni  is  the  travrler  out  of  sight  of 
these  groves,  while  tlie  S'>il  i-;  unsurpassed. 

From  Dr.  l)\ven,s"  geological  Report,  it  ap- 
pears, that  below  the  head  of  navigation  the 
Western  l)aiik  of  the  Red  River  is  a  va.-t  plain 
Ijut  on  the  J'lasI'.  wiiero  the  country  is  k'vel, 
timber  is  more  abundant  on  tlie  river  banks  ; 
the  soil  is  con^viiial  to  the  a-sh  wliic'i  attains  a 
large  size  ;  below  the  mouth  of  Red  f.ake  liiver 
strong  chalybi'ute  springs  ofize  from  the 
clay  banks  ;  saline  springs  are  also  found,  and 
all  accounts  concur  that  hardly  an  acn;  but  is 
eminently  adapted  to  tl;e  cultivation  of  v.'heafi* 
This  great  staple,  with  the  aid  of  niacliineiy, 
will  licreafter  be  cultivated  more  advantage- 
ously over  the  Nortlnvostern  areas  of  the  eon- 
tinent,  than  in  the  Mississippi  l)asin. 


18 


^1 


i 

I 


(t 


M 


i    '  ! 

I    -  ; 
If!    ■ 


ASSINUtOIA. 

\Vc  believe  llmt  this  is  tlic  (iHiciiil  .Ii^iuiiu- 
tion  ot  the  district  of  l>riti-h  Aiiv  ricii  nci'ii- 
pied  by  the  .Selkirk  Si'ttlcmcnts.  I(  ciiiIumccs 
the  lower  or  nortlioni  seotif)n  •'!'  the  1?(<1  iJivi  r, 
and  the  productive  vallcv  of  the  AHsiniltoiii. 
Here  is  a  civiliz^^d  and  iiiti.'rcslini,''  f'')iiiiiiii!i!ty 
of  10,000  sonis — wilii  sclinols,  cluii'i'lu^s.  a 
magistracy,  and  u  succca^'h'  airriniltuit 
trade,  consistiiip  largely  of  llic  c.vi'hini'ir  ci 
furs,  is  cnnccMitratiim' at  SI.  Taul,  and  i-:  c.-ti- 
mated  diirinir  the  year  ISJ)^.  loliavi.'  aiiKninlvd 
to  Sl.OOO.OdO. 

The  Coiniuittcc  would  refer,  for  lnilrr  de- 
tails in  regard  to  the  coimiiiuiity  at  Si'ikirk.  In 
the  numerous  publications  rcci'iitly  mad'.  Tiic 
most  impoitanr  of  these  is  a  document  eireu- 
lated  by  the  Canadian  (iovernnieiit—tlic  Re- 
port of  an  exploi'ini;'  expedition — whieiianionu' 
other  interestin,:^  statements,  shew-;  Ili;it  the 
soil  and  climate  are  e\eii  umiv  fin'orahle  to 
anjriculturo  than  tiic  vicinity  of  'i'oronto.  The 
Minnesota  farmer  reeoi;n'zes  in  tlu^e  d. 'fails  a 
remarkable  coincidence  with  his  o-.vn  i  xji  li- 
encc. 

ciMiti;nr,A.M). 

But  North  of  the  Jled  lliver  S.  UK  ni-it-;,  i-; 
a  region,  almost  a  discovery  of  r.  cent  ( xp'or- 
ers,  which  is  oven  more  aUractive  than  the 
prairie  district  contiL'^uous  to  ih  ■  II,  d  and  A- 
Mniboin  rivers.  Immediately  West  oi  Lake 
Winnipeg,  arc  Lakes  Winnipe^'oos  and  ]\lani- 
toba.  with  an  outlet  flowing  inlu  f,ake  Wiu- 
nepeg  in  latitude  .V2  deg.  Tiilmlary  to  Lake 
Winnipegoos,  are  the  Red  >)eer  and  Swan 
rivers,  which  drain  a  country  of  rare  i)eauty 
and  fertility.  A  traveler,  writing  to  a  Cana- 
dian newspaper,  describes  its  g'lierai  fealuics 
as  rich  prairies,  interspersed  with  hi'l's  of  heavy 
oak  and  elm,  while  the  itinerary  ni'  Sir  ( Jeorge 
Simpson  air()rds  a  most  glowin^i'  picluri'  of 
the  sources  of  Swaw  lliver.  Under  date  of 
July  14th,  he  observes.  "  In  this  part  of  the 
country  we  saw  many  sort-;  C'f  bird;,  geci^e. 
loons,  pelicans,  ducks,  cranes,  two  hinU  of 
snipe,  hawks,  owls  and  gulls;  but  th^y  wcr.' 
all  so  remarkably  shy  that  we  were  C"i:sl  rained 
to  admire  them  from  a  distance.  In  the  Jiffer- 
noon  we  traversed  a  bcautilnl  country  with 
lofty  hills  and  long  valley.*,  full  of  sylvan  lalces 
while  the  bright  green  of  the  surface,  as  far 
as  the  eye  could  reach,  assumed  a  foreign 
tinge,  under  an  unint(Trupted  profusion  of 
roses  and  blue  bells.  On  the  summit  of  ouv. 
of  these  hills  we  commanded  one  of  the  few 
extensive  prospects  we  had  of  late  enjoyed. — 
One  range  of  hights  rose  behind  anothei'.  each 
becoming  fainter  as  it  receded  from  11i(>  eye. 
till  the  farthest  was  blended  in  almost  uiiiW- 
tinguishalile  confusion  with  the  cloud-,  while 
the  softest  vales  s[)read  a  panorama  of  liana- 
ing  copses  and  glittering  lakes  at  our  icet." 

As  Cumberland  Ifouse  is  situated  norlii  of 
the  valley  of  Swan  lliver,  upon  the  Saskatche- 
wan, its  name  has  been  chosen  to  designate 


the  disliifl  liitween  longitudes  100  deg.  and 
lOo  (leg.  aud  fi'oni  latitude  ft'2  (leg.  to  lift  deg. 
An  ciiual  area  immciliately  south,  and  between 
the  parallels  of  ID  deg.  .and  ,5L'  (leg,,  is  no  Ici-S 
altrai  tive  and  l"ili:>'. 

SASK  vniii;wA.N, 

'I'lier '  remains,  from  hmgitude  lOo  to  llo, 
Il>  '  and  IVmiii  latihide  .|!>  to  of),  the  respective  val- 
leys ol  the  Xmlli  and  South  Saskatchewan — 
ample  in  area  and  resnurces  for  four  States  of 
ilie  e\l;  nt  of  Oiiio,  We  ]>i'iip(ise  to  consider 
the  whnle  int'  rval  westward  from  the  junction 
oftlu-  iwo  rivers  to  the  j{<icky  .M('>untains. 
withor.l  ^ulidivi^ion,  as.  indeed,  it.  is  [.rcsentid 
liy  ('ultoiiV  .Mapof  X(irl!i  Am''rii,'a. 

Tile  j.rairie  dislricis  adjtic  Mil  to  the  South 
Saskatchewan,  are  d(seril)ed  by  the  Canadian 
(.\])'oreis.  as  :r,!.  I'i  .r  to  the  licli  alluvial 
plains  ni  i!ii.  i;.  (I  iiiKi  As,-ii)iboi;i  rivers,  but 
,';ir  <  Jrirgu  Simpson'.-;  sketches  of  his  route 
from  I'l.rl  ('ariion  ii>  Fort  l^dnioriton.  are 
s\ig'.ve:.live  el'  ;;  i-i;r.<-ri(.r  aurieultural  region. 
During  I,is  [i;v;  (];,\'.-;  roate,  he  desci'ibes  the 
couniy  "as  .--o  ■iielure-f|e."  in  its  cliai'aettr  that 
almo.-t  ev'.'iy  eeanmnidin:.;'  position  jiresented 
the  eleniciiisiifa  pi'lnres<|Me  j)anorama.  The 
ne.\t  day  he  camped  n'tir  a  lar^c  lake  ;  and  on 
S'iei\-;>i\('  dalis  he  r"rers  to  '-bands  of  buffalo 
in  all  direeiions  to  tin.'  nund)er  of  about  five 
tlioii-jaml,""  abund'int  gam^'."  "  l)old  scrnery," 
'•  deiieiou,-'  wild  IVnii'-."'  ••  hi\ui'iant  crops  of  the 
vetch  o!'  v.'ild  pea.  almost  a-;  nutritions  a  food 
foi'  cattle  and  liors.  s  as  oats,''  "a  scim  of  coal 
ten  feet  ill  tiiiekll'.'.-S."  .*^-c. 

ibit  thiic  i.>  an  aniliority  in  reirard  to  the 
more  west,  ra  porlions  of 'tli"  Saslcatchewan, 
whom  llii'  eotmuiltet'  are  solieilo'ss  to  brinii' 
liromiiieiilly  iieli.re  t!ie  public.  "We  refer  to 
J'athi'r  De  Smet,  the  \levoted  desiiit  mi.'^siona- 
!-y  to  the  IndiaiiS  of  <)."egoii,  mentioned  by 
(iov.  Stevens,  in  a  r.c>  nt  addre.=-s  be.'orc  the 
New  "^'ork  (ieo^■rapllical  Society,  as  "a  uum 
whose  name  i-;  a  tower  of  stri'iiuih  and  faith," 
jxissessiiiLT  higii  seientine  altainments  and  great 
praelieal  K-nowli'dge  of  l!ie  euantry.  I  lis  "Or- 
egon .M!s>ioiis  "  is  a  pnbliealion  of  much  inter- 
est, eonsistintr  of  lettei's  to  his  superioi's  :  and  a 
jior'tion  of  this  volume  narratis  his  explorations 
and  adventures  in  t'le  Saskatchewan  valleys  of 
the  Ibn'ky  Mountain-.  In  Septendier,  iS.Vt, 
he  left  the  source  of  the  (,'oiunibia  river  in  lati- 
tude oO.  and  cro.ssed  the  liueky  Mdunlains,  de- 
scending their  eastern  slojie  in'httitude  51.  lie 
entered  on  the  iSlh  of  September,  '•  a  rich  val- 
ley, agreeably  (livcr-i;ii d  with  )n''adows.  for- 
ests and  l.ike.-  — the  latlei'  aiiounding  in  salmon 
trout."  This  was  a  miauilain  valley,  how- 
ever. !!!id  it  was  not  till  three  days  aiterwards 
that  he  rea.elr.d  I'.ow  I'iver  av  the  South  Fork 
of  the  Saskatchewan.  Tlience  he  continued 
northward,  noticing  sulphurous  fountains  and 
coal  on  the  lied  Deer,  a  branch  of  the  Bow 
riv(T.  Descending  the  valley  of  the  lied  Deer, 
which  i.=:  also  describe d  in  very  glowing  terms, 


h! 


IS 


a 

esi 

th 

da 

ho 

ea 

bu 


(Ic^.  anil 

lu'twic  n 

is  no  k'^s 


I")  to  im, 

'ctivi'  val- 
clicwaii — 
'  States  of 
I  cnusidi  1' 
^  jiiiK'tion 
iloimtaiii;. 
jirc^cnlnl 

tlio  Sni\tli 
(,'aiv,iili;ui 
■h    alhiviiil 
ivcrs.   l)iil 
liis    I'oiitc 
iHitoii.    art' 
rill    i'(i;i<Mi. 
-crili'-s  till' 
iiactd-  tlial. 
I   1  ))•('.-(  ntcd 
ama.     Tlic 
ko  :  and  on 
of   hiifTiilo 
about   fivo 
Id  f-cnu'i'v," 
crops  of  tho 
JDiis   a  food 
,un  of  coal 


rard  to  tlif 
Icatclu'waii. 
IS  to  br'mir 
Ve   ri'lVi'  to 

missioiiii- 
ntioiU'd  by 
buforc  tlic 
as  ■•  a  man 
and  i'ailb,'' 
Is  and  iji'i'at 

His'"()r- 
niiioli  intcr- 
idi's  :  and  a 
explorations 
m  valK'vs  of 
liber,  ]Mr)4, 
I'iver  in  lati- 
oiiiilains.  do- 
tud('51.   He 
"  u  rich  val- 
■•■adows.    for- 
)(r  in  salmon 
vall(^y.  liow- 
-:   aitei'wards 
South  Fork 
le   continued 
fo\inti\ins  and 
of  the   Bow 
he  lied  Deer, 
lowins?  terms, 


ly 


lit,  leni^th  ho  cmcrj^fod  npi  ii    wliat  lie  d'vcvibcH  [ 
us  '•  tlie  vast  ])lain— the  Dcian  of  prairies." 

On  the  eveniii';:  of  the  same  day.  the  mis 'ion-  i 
ary  readied  and  was  iii(spi!al)ly  received  at  th'! 
Rocky  .>roniitain  llou-e,  hitituilc  '>'.\  d.'T..  and 
loiiiritude  1  1.")  (];':;•.,  and  on  the  ,";lst.  of  ()^•il)b■■r 
started  fi)raii''ti;'.'r  j  luniey  on  the  ])lain-' ;  but 
after  two  weeks  absence,  was  coni])el!ed  to  seek 
refiin'e  troni  the  approacli  of  winter  (novv  tho 
middle  of  Novenil)er)  at,  Ivlmonton  lions 'on 
the  Tpper  Sa<l;atch"wan.  I'^roin  this  shelli-r 
he  thus  writes  in '^'eneral  t''!'iiis: 

•• 'i'he  entire  rei^ion  in  the  viciniiy  of  the 
Eastern  chain  of  th(!  Jlockv  iMountains  serviii'.': 
as  their  base  for  thirty  or  sixty  niiles,  is  cx- 
troni'.'ly  fertile,  abouiidin;,''  in  f)rfst-',  plains, 
prairies,  lakes,  strcinu  and  ininera!  sprin;:s. 
Tiie  rivers  and  stream;  are  i'lniiinerali!  •.  and 
on  every  side  ort'T  situation'  favora!)!e  for  the 
coiHtnieiion  of  mil!-;.  The  nortliern  iindsoutli- 
ern  hraiK.'h;/:  of  the  .'^a-kat''li;'\van  water  tlie 
district  I  liave  Ira  verse  1  for  a  di.^tanc■(■  of  about 
tiir'e  hundred  niil'S.  Fori'st.-i  of  |)ine,  cypro-'s, 
*liorn.  jioplar  and  asp'ii  trees,  as  well  U'J  otliers 
of  dilKrent  kinds,  occajty  a  iarue  portion  .J'  it, 
coverin,u' the  declivitijs  of  the  in>unt;;i!i;  and 
Danks  of  the  rivers. 

"Thes:;  oriLri'v.d'y,  take  their  rise  in  ihe  !;i;^ii- 
ost  chains,  wiience  tli^y  i->sne  in  every  directi'in 
like  so  iiuuiy  v -ins.  Tin'  Ijcil-;  a;;d  -id  ■>  of 
tliesi^  rivers  arc  pebl)ly,  and  tlif'ir  course  rapid, 
but  as  they  re^'cde  from  th"  i:i  ii'.ntai'is  t'lev 
widen,  and  t!ie  ciu'rents  lose  somr  t!,;)..,'  ,.f  ii,..ii. 
impetuosity.  'I'lieir  waters  .are  hsu.iIIy  very 
clear.  The  country  wf)uM  be  capable  of  se.p'- 
porting,,' a  hii'i^'e  population,  and  tlie  ^oi!'.^  fa- 
vorable for  th(!  production  of  liurley,  cov:i,  po- 
tatoes, and  beans  which  <xvk\\'  here  a-  '.w'!!  a.'  in 
the  man'  soutliern  ceunlrie-:. 

"  Aretlie.'i;'  va>t  and  ianMineraM:'  I''elds  ofhav 
forever  desli tied  to  be  coiisnnied  liy  fire  or 
j)er!sh  in  the  autuncal  snows'.'  Ifow  lor.^' 
.shall  t!ie,,ie  superb  for  sis  b"  the  liaunts  of  wiM 
Ijoa^ts?  And  tiese  i'l'-xhaustiljle  (jiiariii's, 
these  abundant  mines  ol'  coal,  lead,  ^alplmr, 
iron,  copper  and  salt  petre— can  it  i^e  teat  they 
are  doomed  to  remain  ibrever  inai-tiveV  Xot 
.so.  The  day  will  coiii!>  v.-hen  'OMie  I.dxirm^' 
liand  will  •/we  tlieni  value;  a  sir,'!!:'',  active 
and  enterprising'  people  are  destined  to  til!  this 
spacious  void.  The  wild  beasts  will,  ore  lo!i<r, 
give  place  to  our  domestic  animals,  ilocks  and 
herds  will  graze  in  the  beaiitiful  meadows  that 
border  the  niunb;'rle-s  ino:;ntains.  l;ii!s,  valleys 
and  ])laiio?  of  this  e.xtenivt.'  rei,'iuri." 

Jjife  at  Kdmonton  daring'  the  winter  ■  ''e.^en 
is  thus  sketched  : 


The   nn:iilier    ('[servants,    iiichidii; 


U'    C.'lll- 


dren.is  al)c.ut  elg'.ly.  rifside,-;;;  la ru-e  garden  . 
a  field  ol'  potatoes  and  wheat  b  loiiging  to  tli" 
establishment.  t!ie  ialces.  forests  and  plains  of 
the  neighborhood  i'urnish  provisions  in  a.l)!Hi- 
tiance.  On  my  arrival  at  tiicj'ort,  the  ice 
house  contained  thirty  thousand  whi'e-fish. 
each  weighing  f.rjr  jiounds,  arid  live  hundred 
buf!'aloeg,  the  ordinary  amount  of  the  winter 


provisions.  Hiich  is  the  fpiantity  of  aquati> 
birds  in  the  season,  that  sportsmen  often  send  tc 
the  Kurt  carts  full  of  fowls.  Kgi^s  are  picked 
up  by  thousands  in  th"  straw  and  weeds  of  tho 
mar.-hes.  I  visited  iiuke  St.  Anne,  |ii  mission- 
ary slut  ion  fifty  mile.^  north-west  from  Edmon- 
ton.] '{'he  surface  of  this  region  is  flat  tor  tlie 
most  part,  undulating  in  some  [)luces — diversi- 
lied  with  forests  and  meadows,  and  lakes  teem- 
iig  with  lish.  In  fiako  St.  Anno  alone  were 
cuu'zht,  last  autumn,  more  than  seventy  thou- 
Mind  white-lish,  the  most  delicious  of  the  kind; 
they  are  taken  witli  a  line  at  every  .season  of  the 
y  ar. 

".\ot,\vlt!Htaiiding  the  rigor  and  duration  of 
the  winter  in  this  nortliern  region,  the  earth  in 
general  a[ipeara  fertile.  Vegetatiin  is  so  for- 
ward ill  the  s'jring  and  summer  that  potatoes, 
wli'at  and  barley,  together  with  other  vegeta- 
bles ol'  (.'.niada,  come  to  maturity," 

{r.i  iiie  r2th  of  .March.  Father  i)eS met  star- 
ted on  liis  return  trip,  proceeding  with  sledges 
drawn  by  dogs  over  the  snov/,  to  i'\)rt  Jasper, 
situated  Northwe.-t  fnuii  Edmonton  on  the 
Athabasca  river,  half  a  degrei!  north  of  latitude 
fi-t  d'^'.  Here  occirrcd  the  following  hunting 
adventure : 

••  Provisions  becoming  scarce  at  the  Fort,  at 
the  nionient  when  we  had  with  us  a  considera- 
ble  number  of  Inxpiois  from  the  surrounding 
country,  who  were  resolved  to  remain  until  my 
departni'e  in  order  to  assist  at  the  instructions, 
we  should  liiive  found  ourselves  in  an  embar- 
rassiii<'- situation  had  not    -Mr,  Frazcr  come  to 


out 
the 
the 
pai 

we 


relief,  hy  proposing  that  we  should  leave 
JMirt  and  accompany  himself  and  family  to 
f.akt'  of  Is'aiids,  where  we  could  subsist 
ly  on  ii.-ii.  As  the  distance  was  not  great 
iccepteil  the  invitation,  and  set  out  to  the 
nuniber  ot  iifty-l'air  peison.s  and  twenty  dogs. 
I  count  the  la't'er  biCiusc  we  were  as  much 
oblie'.\l  to  provide  for  them  as  for  our.selve3. 
A  tittle  note  of  the  game  killed  by  our  hunters 
during  the  twenty-six  days  of  our  abode  at  this 
p'ace  will  allbrd  you  some  interest — at  least  it 
\vill  nia.ke  you  uccuiaintcd  with  the  animals  of 
the  country,  and  prove  that  the  mountaineers 
of  the  Athabasca  are  bles.'^id  with  good  appe- 
tites. Animals  killed— twelve  moo,sedeer,  two 
reindeer,  thirty  large  mountain  sheep,  or  big 
hor;i,  two  porcnpinis,  two  hundred  and  ten 
hares,  o-ie  lieaver,  ten  muskrats,  twenty  tour 
bustards,  one  hni;dred  and  tilteeu  ducks,  twen- 
ty-one plieasants,  one  snipe,  one  eagle,  one  owl  ; 
add  to  ihis  from  thirty  to  lifty-!ive  white  fish 
and  twenty  trout  every  day." 

Father  De  Smet  soon  afterwards  returned  to 
the  AW'slerii  slope  (if  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
wlii'lier  we  will  not  follow  him. 

\\\:  heve  tha-  e.\!iibited  the  natural  features 
of  the  great  central  district  soon  to  be  brought 
into  close  connnercial  relation  with  Minnesota 
liy  t!i(>  naviuation  ofthe.se  important  rivers  of 
the  \(>rthwest.  We  have  rested  our  observa- 
tions hitherto  upon  latitude  55  dcg.,  but  the 
suggestions  alreads'  uttered  in'the  British  Par- 


f 


r-ap 


ll  i 


20 


!|  f 


■U! 


1»      1 


4 


ml 


liamt'iit,  ol  ftu  extension  by  caiKil  to  tlic  mivi<;u- 
1)L;  tributaries  ol  IIid  .McKeiizic  will  wiirraut 
tiie  coiisidi'iMtiuii  of  ivti  rrit.orial  (livifiinii  licyoiid 
that  limit. 


.\vii.v;!\;.sr\. 

Tlic  vallrv,-  vi  ili(>  I'viuv  i'.'M  At!iul):i'-(.M 
KivriN,  ciisiwai'd  cftlio  jji/cl<y  .Moiiiilaiiis  Iroiii 
latitude  oJ  dcii'.,  sliari.!  tlic  I'acilic;  eliiiiato  in  a 
rL'in;ii'kal)lo  dfiMtv.  The  lliic.l.y  .Mciirilains  mv 
^Tcatly  ivdiioi'd  in  breadth  and  mean  eli'vatiim, 
and  tinMii!;h  the  iinnic'i'()u,-5  parses  hctwern  their 
lofty  11  >al<s,  tlu'  winds  (if  the  I'aeilic  I'eaeli  the 
distiiet  ill  (|iiesli():i.  llVneo  it  is  thathir  Alex- 
andi'i-  Melveiisic.  nnder  the  dale  (if  A!ay  lOlh, 
inoiitieiis  till.'  c.viil)!  rant,  verdure  of  th'  wlidle 
oouiily — lives  alKiuL  to  l)l(i,«H(.in,  and  lnilliilo 
atteiidrd  liy  lin'ir  yenir^'.  J)iiriii;,''  tlio  late  i'ar- 
lianicnttiry  iiiv(-;ii;'i»tioii,  similar  slatemnits 
weiT  eiieited.  Dr.  Kiclainl  Kir.'_'.  wdio  aeeoni- 
panied  :in  expeditimi  iiiseareli  dl' .Nir  Jnhii  I{oss, 
as  '•  Smp'oii  iuid  N'atiiralist.''  Wiis  nshrd  what 
portion  of  the  eiiunty  visited  liy  him  was  val- 
iiabji'  for  til:'  piirpi'se  Oi  siiili'iiu'iit.  In  reply, 
ho  deseribed  "as  n  very  f  ri  ile  valley,"  a  ••tifjiiaro 
piece  of  eoiiiifi'v"'  lioniided  on  the  son'li  by 
Climb  ■r'aiid  iloii^,',  ai,d  iiy  the  Atliabas(!ii 
fiake  on  the  iiortii.     .]  lis  words  nre  as  follnv>-.s  : 

■•'J'Ir;  sources  of  the  At'tabasea  and  the 
sources  of  tiie  Saskatelirwan  include  an  enorm- 
ous area  ofco'iniry.  it  is,  in  fact,  a  vast  piece 
ol'  land  surrounded  by  walrr.  Wlieii  1  heard 
Dr.  iiiviii'istoirs  di'scri|iti(in  ci'  t hit:  country, 
whirii  he  jnuiid  in  fiie  iiitci'ior  of  Alriea  uithin 
tiie  iMjiiator,  ii,  appeared  to  me  to  be  precisely 
the  kill. I  of  country  wiiicli  i  am  iiowdeseribinu'. 
'*  ■■''  *  It  is  a  rich  S''!.  iiiters]:ei>ed  with 
well  wooded  country,  there  lieiii'r  prowth  of 
overv  kind,  and  the  whole  veni'taJile  kino'dcnn  !  <1 
alive." 

A\'lien  asked  concernini:'  niiiu  ral  ]iroductions, 
his  n'ply  was.  '•  1  do  not  know  oi  any  other 
mineral  except  linustone  ;  liuKStoiie  is  apparent 
in  all  directions.  *  ■■■•  TIh!  birch,  the  beach 
and  the  maple  are  in  abundance,  and  there  is 
every  sort  of  fruit."  A\'lien  questioned  lurthor, 
as  to  the  K'rowtii  of  frees.  Dr.  K'w^  replied  by 
a  com|)arisoii  "  with  ilie  miiirnilicent. trees  round 
ivensin!.'loii  Park  in  London."  Ife  described  ! 
alarm  near  ('ambei'Iiuid  iloiee.  under  very  I 
successful  cultivation— iuxiiriaiit  uheat,  ])otu- 
toes.  barley  and  domestic  animaN.  ; 

'I'lie  committei!  will  not  extend,  by  any  cen- 
eralization  of  tlitir  own,  these  lieoora'pliical  ! 
statements.  They  prefer,  in  conclusion,  to  di.s-  i 
iiose  ol'iiii;  subji'cis  of  climate  and  population,  I 
ill  the  ii'i|)ressivo  laiitmarre  of  a  writer  in  the  1 
Knickerbocker  .Ma!'a;^ine  for  October  1858.        I 

••  Here  is  the  u'reat  fact  of  the  Xortii-Wcst-  I 
ern  areas  of  this  continent.  An  area  not  iiife-  ! 
rior  in  sizt!  to  the  whole  United  States  cast  of  ! 
tlie  Mississippi,  which  is  perfectly  adapted  to  ■ 
the  fullest  occupation  by  cnitivati'd  nations,  yet  ; 
is  almost  wholly  unoccupied,  li(\s  west  of  the 
!)8th  meridian,  and  above  the  -l.'id  parallel,  that 
is,  noi'tii  of  the  latitude  of  Milwaukee,  and  west 


of  the  longitude  of  lied   JJivcr,  Fort  Keurney, 
IS    (Jluisti  ;  or,  to  state   the  hict  in 


and  (Corpus 
anotlu  r  way,  (>ast  of  the  llocky  Mountains,  niul 
west  of  the  Ostli  meridian,  and  between  tlio 
•Hid  and  (iOtli  parallels,  there  is  a  ])roductive, 
(uiltivable  area  of  ijOO.OOO  sriuare  miles.  West 
of  tiie  llocky  Mountains  and  between  the  same 
jiarallels.  there  is  an  area  of  300,000  sciuaro 
mile.-?. 

'•  It  is  a  great  mistake  to  suppose  that  the 
temperature  of  the;  Atlantic  coast  is  carried 
slrai;.dit  across  the  continent  to  the  Pacilic. — 
Tiie  isothermals  dcllcct  greatly  to  the  north,  and 
the  temperatures  of  the  IS'orthern  Pacific  are 
jiarallekd  in  the  high  temperaturcB  in  high  lati- 
tudes of  Western  and  (Central  Kurope.  Tiio 
latitudes  which  inclose  the  plateaus  of  the  Mis- 
.soiiri  and  Saskatchewan,  in  Europe,  inclose  tlio 
rich  central  plains  of  the  continent.  The  great 
grain  growing  districts  of  Russia  lie  betwetu 
the  -loth  and  (lOlli  parallel,  that  is,  north 
of  tlic  latitude  of  Saint  I'aul,  M  iuncsota,  or 
Kastport,  Maine.  Indeed,  the  temperature  in 
some  instances,  is  higher  for  the  same  latitudes 
here  than  in  Central  Europe.  'J'hc  isothermal 
of  70  deg.  for  the  summer  which  on  our  plateau 
ranges  from  along  latitude  fiO  deg.  to  02  deg., 
in  I'liirope  skirts  through  Vienna  and  Odessa 
ill  about  parallel  4C  ikij;.  The  isothermal  of 
55  (leg.  for  lla;  year  runs  along  the  coast  of 
IJritisli  Colnnibia,  and  docs  not  go  far  from 
New  York,  London,  and  Sebastopol.  Further- 
more, dry  areas  are  not  found  above  47  deg., 
and  then;  are  no  barren  tracts  of  conseqneiiccj 
nortii  of  tlu^  Bad  Lands  and  the  Coteau  of  the 
Missouri;  the  land  grows  grain  finely,  and  is 
Weil  wooded.  Ail  the  grains  of  the  temperate 
districts  are  here  produced  abundantly,  and  In- 
dian corn  may  be  grown  as  high  as  the  Sas- 
katchewan. 

'•ThebulValo  winter  as  .-afely  on  the  upper 
Atliaiiasca  as  in  the  latitude  of  St.  I'aul,  and 
tiie  spring  opens  at  nearly  the  same  time  along 
the  immense  line  of  plains  from  St.  Paul  to 
Mackenzie'.s  river.  I'o  these  fiicts,  for  wdiich 
there  is  the  authority  of  ]5iodgetfs  'J'rcatise  on 
the  ( .Tiiiiatology  of  the  United  States,  may  be  ad- 
ded this,  that  to  the  region  bordering  tne  North- 
ern Pacific,  the  finest  maritime  positions  be- 
long tlirougliont  its  entire  extent,  and  no  part 
of  the  west  of  Europe  exceeds  it  in  the  advan- 
tages of  equable  climate,  fertile  soil,  and  com- 
mercial accessibility  of  coast.  We  have  the 
same  excellent  authority  for  the  statement  that 
in  every  condition  forming  the  basis  of  national 
wealth,  the  continental  mass  lying  westward 
and  northward  from  liake  Superior  is  far  more 
valuable  than  the  interior  in  lower  latitudes,  of 
which  Salt  ijake  and  Upper  New  IMexico  are 
the  prominent  known  districts.  In  short,  its 
(•onmiercial  and  industrial  capacity  is  gigantic. 
Its  occupation  was  coeval  with  the  Spanish  oc- 
cupation of  New  Mexico  and  California.  1'he 
Hudson  Bay  Company  has  preserved  it  an  utter 
wilderness  lor  many  long  years.  The  Frazer 
River   discoveries  and    emigration  are   facts 


21 


L  Kearney, 
111!  Iiict  in 
ntiiins,  luid 
■twion  the 
»i'oduclive, 
ics.  West 
n  the  same 
JOO  Eiiuuro 

so  that  tho 
is  carried 
;  Paeilic. — 
:  north,  and 
raeilic  are 
in  hijfh  hiti- 


rope. 


The 


of  tlic  Mis- 
,  inclose  the 

'l"hc  great 
lie  between 
t  is,  north 
iuiie?ota,  or 
iperatnrc  in 
ne  latitndes 
c  isothermal 
our  plateau 
.  to  52  deg., 

and  Odessa 
:ot hernial  of 
the  coast  of 
yo  far  from 
)i.  Further- 
ovc  47  deg., 
conscqnence 
Joteau  of  the 
iiiely,  and  is 
he  temperate 
iitly,  and  In- 

as  the  Has- 

)n   tho  upper 
it.  Paul,  and 
le  time  alonf? 
I  St.  Paul  to 
;ts,  for  which 
j;  'i'reatise  on 
OS,  may  bead- 
nii;'  the  North- 
positions  be- 
and  no  part 
in  tho  advan- 
;oil,  and  com- 
We  have  the 
.tatement  that 
sis  of  national 
ing   westward 
or  is  far  more 
T  latitudes,  of 
w  ISIexico  are 
In  short,  its 
ity  is  gigantic. 
lie  Spanish  oc- 
.lifornia.     'J'he 
•ved  it  an  utter 
.    The  F  razor 
;ion  are   facts 


which  tho  Compuny  cannot  cnisli.  Itself  must 
go  to  the  wall,  and  now  the  popidation  of  the 
groat  northwestern  area  begins." 

In  review  of  the  foregoing,  especially  when 
considered  in  connoetioii  with  the  probai)!*'  or- 
ganization of  the  I'rovinco  of  SasjUatclunvan  at 
the  next  session  of  tho  Jlritish  I'arliatncnt.yoiir 
Committee  entertain  great  confidence  that  the 


announcement  ol  a  Steamboat  upon  Ked  Uiver 
in  June  18.")!),  will  arrest  such  a  degree  of 
interest  that  tho  travel  and    tnuisportatinn  of 

the   next   season  will   bn   v(>ry  Oonsidcrable 

j)r()bably  ample  to  remuiierato  tho  enterprise  ; 
while,  the  future  increase  will  bo  fully  e((ual 
to  th(!  extraordinary  progress  o(  steamboat  in- 
terests upon  tlie  Upper  MissisUppi. 


I 


APPENDIX    "C." 


I     ! 

I  ; 


I  i   , 


■:'  I 


EXPLORATION  OF  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS  IN  ERJT- 
ISII  A?.!EUICA  BY  CAPTAIN  PALLISER. 

Exlivd  J'loiii  the  Address  of  Sir  Roderick  L  Murchison,  ut  the  Auiiii:ersanj  3!ivt/n><;iif'  Ihc  lioijdl 

Gcogntpkical  Socidij,  Mnij  'lad,  1851). 


The  impoi'tiint  results  ol'  tiio  exjjluriii^'  oxpiv 
ditioii  under  (Japtaiii  J.  PullistT,  as  cotiimutii- 
catod  by  the  ('olonial  Onicc.  and  as  dwelt  upon 
in  awardintr  t!ie  Fimnder's  (luld  Mcdnl  tn  that 
ollicer,  iiave  iieCL-.-.-iiriiy  i;iveii  jrroat.  i--ati--!acti(in 
to  us,  prucwdin;i  as  i!;.'y  A"  I'roia  niv'ii  who 
were  especially  ivcninnieiided  lor  this  public 
service  tu  Her  Majesty's  ( !overnni''nt  l»y  our 
Society  as  weii  as  by  the  linyal  Society. 

When  Cautain  Paliiser  tirst  proposed  to 
make  tiiis  ex[)loratioii,  one  of  the  main  points 
of  interest  to  l:> o^'i'apliers  v.'as  a  >nrvvy  of  that 
pan  of  the  lli)ci<y  .Nloimtains  to  liie  north  of 
tlie  United  States  boundary  which  separates 
the  great  tracts  now  named  British  Columbia 
from  the  easr.'rn  mass  ol  i;riti<h  Xorlh  Ameri- 
ca. Jicr  Majesiy's  (liiwrninent  deeme !  it, 
however,  of  paramount  importance  tliat,  in  the 
iirst  in-itance,  the  natiinjof  the  ground  belween 
Lakes  Sujicfior  ai.d  Winnipe;;  should  bo 
accurately  surveyed,  in  ordii'  to  set  at  rest  all 
questi,ins  oi  colonization  as  di-pendant  on  the 
pjssibiiity  of  ni.:kii;'.»:  practica!)!e  rnutes  of 
conmiunicatioa.  For  example,  wlietiicr  the 
Canad.is  ni!:;!'.t  l.'e  bronu'ht  into  prnOtable 
comnmnication  witii  t,!i.'  Red  Riv<»r  Si'ttlement. 
The  reuioteror  nioi'^' western  exploration-;  were 
dvstiaed  to  vlevelo!)  the  true  nature  of  the  sj^reat 
prairie  r.^^rioa,  a-;  watered  by  the  Xorth  and 
Siiuth  Sa^katchc'.van  rivers  and  their  alfluents. 
(lollaterally.  it  was  resolved,  if  possible — and 
mainly  at  th^  instance  of  this  ,S oeiel  v — to  d(^ter- 
iniae  the  elevation  of  the  R  teky  Mountains  \\) 
those  parallels  of  latitude,  and  to  point  out  the 
passes  in  them  by  which  cominunicatlon  mi^'ht 
be  oponed  out  !>otween  the  vast  country  occu- 


pied by  the  Hudson   Hay   Company  and   the 
great  Hiitisii  svabdard  nn  the  I'acilic. 

In  the  award  of  the  Putnm's  .Midal  to  Cap- 
tain PallL-er,  allusions  have  been  made  to  some 
of  the  principle  results  c;btained  by  the  re- 
searches of  th(!  expedition  under  l;i»  orders. 
But  I  should  not  do  justice  to  the  leatler  and 
his  associates,  nor  to  my  own  feelings,  were  f 
not  to  add  a  few  words  of  explanalion  and 
comment.  The  first  year's  labors  wiM'e  neces- 
sarily of  more  importance  to  the  (jrovernment 
than  they  could  be  to  ,i;-eographei's  and  natu- 
ralists The  great  object  was  to  determine  the 
capability  of  establishing  an  intei'ci,urse  be- 
tween the  rocky  region  of  J^akes  !Suj)irior  anii 
"NVimupeLr  on  the  east  and  the  ricii  prairie 
counti'iea  on  the  west;  and  though  astiMnnmi- 
eal,  ]iliysical,  and  magnetical  obstrvatiims  of 
considcrabli;  inipfirtance  were  made — these 
countries  l)cing  to  a  ua-eat  extent  known  beibiv, 
and  their  outlines  being  monotonous — that  por- 
tion of  the  surs-ey  created  but  slight  interest 
auiong  \is 

Xot  Si)  when  the  Rocky  .Mountains,  to  which 
we  had  spi'cially  directed  attention,  came  to  be 
surveyed."  On  proceeding  from  Fort  Carlton, 
Pal!i-cr  showed  his  good  seune  in  iipproaehing 
these  mountains  irom  the  rich  BuUalo  praii'ics 
midw.iy  l)etvveen  the  Xortii  and  Souih  Sas- 
kati'Jiawaii.  An  experienced  butl'alu  hunter 
himself,  he  kmnv  that  if  !iis  men  were  not  well 
supplied,  by  uo  efforts,  hov/ever  well  directed, 

*  Di'.  Hector  liail,  by  diriictions  of  liia  cliief,  nwde  a 
succrj-islul  furay  in  liof^-sleilues  to  tlie  "aHtcrn  i''!t,'e  of 
tlio  Koi'ky  MountiV'iJS  iluriog  the  winter,  in  whicli  lit- 
procurcil  men  aiij  liorses. 


38 


BlilT- 


'■  liic  lioijid 


ly  and   tlic 

ic. 

(hll  tn  Vu\)- 

.iIl'  ill  S(MliL' 

by  tin;  lu- 
ll is  orders. 
loadiT  and 
ii.H-,  weTo  I 
nation  und 

juwrnnuMit 
ai;(l  natu- 
U-riiiiiK'  tliL- 
I'ci'iir.-i!  bt;- 
iipci'ior  uiul 
icn  praij'iu 
:i?tr.ini)i)ii- 
I'valjons  of 
Kuk' — tlie.-'u 

O'.Vll   Iji'ioiV, 

-that  pui'- 
it   inUTidt 

US,  to  wiiicli 

CalML'  lu   l)J 

Ji'L  CariluM, 
i;i|)niaeiiing' 
do  |);'airifS 
Souiii  .Sas- 
I'alu  liuiiU'r 
I'e  no!,  well 
II   diivctjd, 

chid',  niiiile  a 
istuTii  I'.lne  of 
in  whifti   lif 


roiild  tlioy  Huccpod.  Accordingly,  liavinjjf  ca- 
tuliii-'ln'd  a  trood  biise,  und  haviiif,'  Ht'cured 
iitmndaiit  provisions  at  Slautcr  Orook,  ho 
dividi'd  Ills  lorcc  into  tlirco  parties.  licadin^ 
(MIC  of  ilii'.s((  liinHcir  a(!ro.'<s  tliu  KaniiimsUi  I'as.j, 
and  ri'iiirnins,'  l)y  the  Kootaiiit!  Vam  in  north 
latiliidi!  'ID '.J  '  .  and  dircclitii;  (Jui)tain  lilakis- 
ton  to  ('.\[»loro  ilio  still  niort!  soiilhiTly  (ir 
Itoiinilary  Pa>i;<,  ho  sent  Dr.  llnctor  to  truvurso 
the  chain  Ity  the  Vcrniilion  1 'ass,  and  to  ex- 
plore, a-i  a  ireolo;;'isl  ami  niitnralist,  the  nuieli 
lofiier  niDiinlaiin  into  which  the  chain  rises  in 
its  trend  lo  the  N.N.W.  Tliis  division  ot  his 
forces  Willi  meriteil,  thcrefon;  the  expressions 
nsi'd  in  (lie  award  which  has  boon  Huiictioiiud 
by  the  Coiiiieil. 
"'riiD  ntarlved  hucci.'ss  of  the  survey  accom- 
plished by  my  yonni;  friend  Dr.  J  lector  has 
i)ei'n  |):'eiili;uiy  uralilyinif  to  mi',  irmsinaeli  as  1 
had  answered  lir  the  capacity  lie  would  exhibit, 
in  api)lyin!X  liis  scii-ntilU'  knowled,i;e.  'i'lnis,  in 
addition  to  the  determination  of  latitude  loniii- 
tud  ■.  and  th.'  altilud'' of  the  nnmntuinN  and  two 
III'  tli"ir  pa  es.  Dr.  lI'H'tnr  |)resenls  us  with  a 
sketch  of  the  physical  and  }.^eolo;^ieal  siructnre 
of  the  chain,  with  its  axis  of  slaty  subcryslal- 
line  roek>",  ovirlaid  by  linieatone.s  of  D.jVMiiian 
and  (;.iri)onirerous  ajre,  and  Hanked  on  tiie 
eastern  lace  by  (Jari»onil'er(jus  .sandstone,  repre- 
seatinii'.  probably,  our  own  coallields,  the  whole 
t'ii|!:»\viMl  iiy  l\\'i~v  Cretaceous  and  'I'^'rliary 
deposits  which  eon-aitnte  the  subsoil  of  tin-  vast 
and  rich  prairies  watered  l)y  the  N'orth  and 
South  Saskatchewan  and  their  afllueiits.  His 
observations  on  the  erratic  or  dritt  plienomena 
are  also  curious  and  vaUiable. 

Prevented  by  his  instructions  from  descend- 
im;  into  the  valleys  of  C  )hi!nbia,  and  there  to 
ascertain  praclieabh^  routes  to  the  far  west, 
which  he  will  look  out  for  durinjj;  the  ])ivsent 
summer.  Dr.  Hector,  thou;>'h  so  severely  injured 
bv  the  kick  of  a  horse  as  to  be  incapacitated 
fi'oni  moving'  for  some  days,  eonti'ived  so  to 
travel  northwards  as  to  round  the  base  of  the 
loitirst  mountains  of  the  chain  iii'fore  he  return- 
ed to  his  wint'-r  quarters  in  Oi-tobf-r,  after  an 
altsence  of  eiirhteen  weeks  fruni  his  chief,  but 
laden  with  valnal)le^e;\!jraphical  and  i^^eoloi^ieal 
knowledi^e. 

In  this  survey  he  had  the  nvn-it  of  showing 
that  the  Vermillion  Pas-i— which  is  less  than 
;■)()()()  feet  hi.u'li,  and  therefore  1,000  lei't  lower 
than  any  other  known  pass  of  the  Rueky  Moun- 
tiiiii^—l'iad  another  ilecided  advantaf,'e  over 
them,  inasnnich  as  its  western  slope,  trom  the 
summit  level  of  the  horse  path,  is  so  little  steep 
that  its  explorer  had  no  doubt  that  even  a  road 
for  carts  may  bo  there  established.  The  de- 
scents westward,  or  into  the  drainaG:e  of  the 
(^-)lumbia,  in  the  other  passes,  are  exceedingly 
steep ;  and.  according:  to  Captain  Blakiston, 
the  Kootanie  Pass  can  only  have  a  railroad 
made  along  it  by  the  fortnation  of  tunnels  of 
several  miles  in  length,  and  by  encountering  the 
dilficulty  of  the  st(>ep  western  gradient  ot  1 94 
feet  per  mile. 


Another  sinirular  natural  feature  of  compnri- 
-on  i-;,  that  whilst  the  N'rrmillion  Pass  is  less 
tlian  o ,000  fret  above  the  sea,  the  adjacent 
mountains  on  the  north  rise  to  near  ICi.OOO  feet, 
shiiwini:  the  great  de[)th  of  the  gori,'e.  On  the 
other  hand,  in  the  range  beyond  the  Mritish 
boundary,  to  the  south,  and  where  no  peak  (not 
even  tha't  i.!  Fremont)  excNvds  I.'Mmio  feet,  the 
passes  range  from  O.OOO  to  7,00(1  feet  hiirh.* 

Whether  one  of  t'lf.' heights  called  Mounts 
|{rown|-  and  ilook-er  by  Mr.  Ddin-las,  in 
honor  ol  our  eminent  botanical  contemporaries, 
be  still  lii'j'her  than  tlie  .Mount  Mnrchisonff 
Palliser  and  Hector,  it  is  certain  that  the  chain 
iliminishes  rapidly  in  its  trend   from  this   lofty 

*  In  ftiiMi'l|i,'itl()i)  (if  wtiiit  my  licri'iifltT  Ik;  jmlilislii d 

III  t*?('  '•,!  Ill 'till  nf  thf  Iviy;'!    (1 ifi  iiMciil    SiuHctv," 

liii-  rcailcr  i«  n  f  rnvl  to  tlic  piiin'rn  iirisciitfd  to  I'hi-I'h- 

rtiiMit  ill  .\iiiil,  nl,'\tivf  to  till'  "  I'lviliirutioii  liy  (';i|itii;i 

I'.lI'I'ci- nf  tleO  pTtir.M  i.f  IlrilMi  NiiiMti  Anicrir:)  \vl,i>'h 

I'l-s  li.'tw  '1  n  till'  ;irirt(ii-rti  li.'iitirti  cf  llic  Ilivi  r  Sll^l^!lt(■!l■ 

i\v:iii  iiriil  Itie  frontier  nf  tlic  t/irtnl  Stiio  .  ,  ;itMlli 'i  wi'i  t» 

till'  Ht'il  Itlv  r  (iinl  It'irky  Miiiiitalns."    Tli'fi'    iirii.tiil 

ilnrumi'ies   arc  iiri'iinipn'ikd  liy  a   iiap,   f.v^"iit'il   I'y 

Arroftsmilli,  frnrn  ttic  .•(urV''ys  of'ttie  l',nlli»cri'\|>nllll'i!i, 

tciK,  t'li  r  wall  clis|i  ih'lu's  of  till'  U'H'ler  ami   oflii'-'Ti*  lai- 

iler  tiis  «riiii(i'(iiil.  anil  fililrs  iriviiitc  thi:  ciK'ul'iii  us  nf 

IrttUii'ld  ,'\nil  Idiu'IihIc  liy  will  !'  tin-  jinsitlonH  ot   |iliH'eij 

were  flxcil.     An  lel  lillnml  piipi  p  ami  njaji  on  It'i'  soiith- 

lirii   part,  nf  t'l  •  l{ii"ky   \I(iiiniai'if   iv  mi'  tlic   Aiiirr'n'iin 

Imiinlai-.v,  .'1^  prrpiri'il  Uy  (' ijitiiin   lUik  Ktnn,  wlm  ?,ii.i 

I    iinltlcil   '1k<  cNpi'ilUinn,  Ins  vi.ry  vei'fiitly  lu  en  .'("■lit  tn 

I    till*   Soclity,  with  till'  iiotii'i;   frniii  thf  Si'i'rwtury  ol   fliu 

:    C 'it'll  it's  tin  t  it  wu'i  n"l  Inn k til  upoo  as  iiii  iillich;!  ■':  iii- 

'    niiinif«l''in  ini'll  i-aiii  tl'nu'il  liy  f  ipliii'i  I'ulliMf r.     1  li'-se 

I    I'lal,  nitntiiiifil   aiii'iii'i"nts,  wlilch    acvm   to  me   tn  lio 

I    al^io    iihly   pr 'I'^o'tfil,  luivn    nnf  yi't    lit'i:n    laid    'nfrre 

1    till!  Siioli'ty.     Till.'  p'llilii',  will   siiion  possc-.s  an  vvci  l-cnt 

iii'ipliy  Ari'o'.vsinlMi,   in  wlili'li  all   tin;  iii'W  d'sonvi-ries 

;iri'  'n.strN'it.     This  iiiai)  is   ("itit'.e'l   "  Tin.' I'rnviiici'H  nf 

(tritisli   (Inliviil'i'i,  Var''<invi'r   Islatnl,  with    pnrticiiH  of 

I    th"  ITiiite.l  St'iti's  an'l  lliiil-mn  lUy  Tt-rritnry." 

I  was  ri'i'iTitiy  iiif.iiiiiiil  liy  r  y  fr'ii.il,  I)  c  Kitrl't  IFon, 
'  K'livaril  K.'liri',  lh;it,  the  ,ci"n,i:vilplili'ai  nnsilloii  nf  iliise 
passts  was  laiil  ilowr  inany  yi'Hi'-  a^o  upon  n  MS.  ninp, 
n*  tiip  iiisfini'i'  nf  '.he  Hii't'-nn  l!av  Cnniiiany.  tiy  Mr. 
]  Daviil  Truiiiip.s  Ml.  I  luvvrt  fuitlur  loanit  iroui  Mr. 
'  Arrow-niith,  with  wh'.m  h>'  cO' re.'"poiiilfil.  tint  Mr. 
!  Thdiiipsnii  ,-\|il  'r.'il  liie  VHtt  ri'pinti.'*  "f  thr  Iliiilsi.n  Hay 
I  Coi'ipany  in  "ll  rerfi't-ons  liiiiini;  twiiity-ciL'lit  yours, 
\  aii'l  iiroji-oti'ii  the  coustriK'tion  if  a  iri'iiiial  iii.-m  <  f  the 
I  ivhnlH  Rnuritry  betwi'i'ii  ll'i.ison  Hay  fi^d  I, yk"  Superior 
on  till'  east  and  tlie  I'aoilirt  on  the  west !  It  appear.'? 
'  lint  :lie  1  ust  si.x  years  of  hi"  lih.irs  were  sp-nt  on  tlie 
West  .side  of  the  Rncky  .MniuCains — \\  hi-\r\\s  'iiiimitant 
!  to  niitu  that  hi.s  MS.  maps  were  all  ri.ilde  from  the  actual 
j  .survey,  cori"eeted  hy  leim'-rnus  astrntu  iiiicil  dhserva- 
'  ti'iTi'i.  The  'aiL'e.st  iillliU'Tit  nf  the  l''r:'Zer  tiiver  in 
JJritisli  Cdnnihia,  "tin-  Thoiniisi n,"  Jn.silv  liea-n  the 
niime  of  'hisi.'r"!it  hur,  little  kiicv.-n  jrenj.'ra  hiciil  e.\- 
lilorer  ;  and  1  therel'cre  Iru^t  t!i:it  there  is  no  fiiu.'dati'in 
for  a  rep'  rt  which  has  heeti  spread,  that  it  is  propi,«ed 
i  to  Siuhstilute  some  ■  Iher  apjiellatinii  fur  the  name  of  tliis 
I  iiieritiirinns  man,  l("):iiiii  ti;,' hi?  astrnnfiiideal  nliserva- 
I  tiiins  in  IT'.t'J,  Mr.  David  Tlinfni,s',n  v/as  hi  ISl ,'  a|ip:>iiit.- 
!  eil  the  A^trononier  of  ttu'  N'lrlh.  Ai  lericiii  limndaiy 
I  Commission,  ai;d  was  npw.'i'^.s  nf  li^hty  yeirs  o/  a>.'e 
I  when  he  di'j.l  in  Citiada.  I'l  ihe  words  of  Mr.  Arrow- 
:  .smith,  "  he  ,ii).s  Uft  no  one  heliind  him  wlio  is  possessed 
1  of  a  teiitli  1  art  of  his  aivpiaintiinoe  w  th  the  terriloi  ie.s 
j  of  tile  llui's  n  Ba.y  Company,  whose  directors  were  duly 
I  sensilile  of  liis  i,'reat  nievits."  Whatever  may  be  the 
\  fate  of  that  remarkahle  Corporation,  we  iiiust  all  admit 
i  that  it  has  nr.t  only  maintained  liriti.-ii  ri;.'hts  over  wlJe 
]  tracts  of  North  America.  Ijut  has  also,  in  adiiition  to 
{  Thompson,  i^roduced  some  of  <he  hest  j,'eoloiricai  ex- 
I  plorers  of  8now-cl»d  Arctic  countries,  inclu  ing  our 
j  medallist  llae  ;  whik.t  it.s  dealini;  witii  the  various  fur 
'  hunting  tribes  of  Indians  have  lieen  so  equitable  ss  to 
i  have  nnint'iined  the  altachmeiH  of  tliese  poor  people, 
I  who  under  such  inilu>--  '  have  hern  preserved,  iust'-ad 
I  of  fallini;  before  the  white  man,  as  in  other  parts  of 
I   Aiuerioa. 

I       t  Mount  Brown  is  said  to  be  16,000  feet  high. 


24 


J  •I" 


nil 


Cluster  to  tlio  nortli.  Wo  know,  indeed,  that 
Miickcnzio,  the  first  s^reat  explorer  of  tliose 
rofifions,  piissed  tlironj-li  tlie  ranije  in  north 
latitude  oO  '^  ,  at  a  comparatively  lower  level. 
As^ain,  we  further  know  that  in  proceeding' 
northwards  these  mountains  dwindle  into  insijf- 
nificanco  before  they  reach  the  Arctic  Ocean. 

It  will  be  re'^ollccted  that  seven  years  ag'o 
Captain  M.  H.  ovng-e  of  tiie  Royal  Knu'ineers, 
who  had  been  quart<>red  in  the  t'anadas,  and 
had  made  evcursions  into  \\u'  adjacent  western 
territories,  beintr  deeply  imbued  witii  the  im- 
portance of  the  original  observations  of  Mack- 
enzie, and  attracted  by  his  giowinj?  description, 
made  a  warm  ajipeal  in  favor  of  the  establish- 
ment oi  a  line  of  coununnication  lu'tween  the 
Atlantic  and  racilic,  by  parsing;  from  Lake 
Athabasca  and  the  I'eace  River,  thence  trav- 
ersing the  Rocky  Mountains  on  the  parallel 
followed  by  Mackenzie. 

But  that  scheme  must  now,  1  apprehend, 
give  way  belore  the  shorter  pa.ssages  across 
the  mountains  in  a  more  fsonthern  parallel,  and 
which  will,  it  is  hoped,  bring  a  rich  prairie 
country  on  the  east  into  intercourse  with  our 
newly  discovered  gold  region  on  the  we.-t.  as 
well  as  with  Vancouver  Island,  the  natui'al 
resources  of  which  were  bronuht  before  us  l)y 
< jolonel  W.  ('.  (irant.  During  the  animated 
discussion  which  took  place  among:  us  in  tie 
year  18.51,  Mr.  Asa  Whitney,  of  the  United 
State-  in  proposing  his  giuanlic  plan  of  an 
inter,  ceanic  railway,  canilidly  told  us  that  the 
best  line  of  intercourse  between  the  two  oeeans 
would  be  found  within  the  British  territories. 
and  the  Palliser  expedition  has  already  gone 
far  to  demonstrate  the  truth  and  value  of  his 
sufTU'estion. 

With  a  knowledge  of  the  data  acquired  by 
the  Palliser  expedition,  men  of  ardent  minds 
contemplate  the  formation  of  a  railroad,  or,  if 
not,  of  a  practicable  route,  which,  traversing 
British  possessions  only,  shall  connect  the  At- 


lantic and  Pacific  Oceans.  But  when  we 
reflect  that  the  length  of  this  line  is  above 
2,000  English  miles,  and  that  the  greater  part 
of  the  route  on  the  cast  will  have  to  traverse 
wild  and  unpeopled  regions,  wo  cannot  rush  to 
hasty  conclusions  as  to  the  practicability  ot 
such  an  enterprise.  Neither  ought  we  to  de 
ride  a  plan  which  may  be  ultimately  called  for 
when  British  Columbia  and  Vancouver  Island 
shall  have  risen  into  that  importance  which 
they  must  attain  as  British  Colonies.  For,  it 
is  now  ascerttiined,  that  the  tract  lying  between 
the  Xorth  and  South  Saskatchewan  on  the  east 
is  one  of  great  fertility,  where  no  intense  cold 
prevails,  and  that,  once  through  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  the  tra»'eler  enters  a  country  of 
cedars  and  rich  vegetation,  in  which  even  wheat 
may  l)e  grown  at  heights  exceeding  2.000  feet 
above  the  sea.  In  the  mean  time  we  need,  at 
all  events,  have  no  hesitation  in  assuming  that 
the  electric  telegraph  will,  ere  long,  be  at  work 
across  British  North  America. 

Believing  it  to  be  of  the  deepest  geographical 
importance,  that  men  who  have  distinguished 
thiMuselves  as  Palliser  and  his  associates,  should 
net.  tlirough  a  misplaced  economy,  be  held  to 
their  original  instructions,  and  be  forced  to 
return  home  ,ards  by  retracing  their  steps  from 
Fort  Edmonton,  over  the  ])reviously  beaten 
tracks  of  North  America  and  the  United  States, 
I  liave  had  great  pleasure  in  supporting  the 
re(|uest  of  the  gallant  leader  of  this  expedition 
and  of  his  associate.  Dr.  Hector,  that  they  might 
be  allowed  to  wend  their  way  home  next  sum- 
mer by  again  traversing  the  passes  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  thence  to  expiore  the  great 
intervening  tracts  of  British  Columbia,  includ- 
ing the  auriferous  region  of  Frazer  River.  I 
am  happy  to  say  that  Sir  Edward  B.  Lytton 
readily  complied  with  thisre(iuest,  and  that  the 
Palliser  expedition  is  thus  about  to  establish 
fresh  claims  upon  on  r  approbation. 


■ 


0  'S 


APPENDIX    ^'D;' 


ITINERARII^S  OF  ROUTES  FROM  ST.  PAUL  TO  PEMBI- 
NA, FORT  GARRY,  FORT  ELLICE  AND  EDMONTON 
HOUSE. 


i 


St.  Pait..  mi\.,  March  1st,  1.8C0. 
./.    Jr.    Taijlor,  Es,j.: 

Sirt;  ill  coiiipliiince  with  your  request,! 
herewith  submit  lo  you  copies  of  the  most  w- 
]i<ibl(;  itiiierarit's  oT  the  various  rout's  l)etween 
8t.  I'aul  aiul  I'emhina  on  the  Rod  River  of 
the  North  ;  ai-o  ol'  routes  beyond  the  hitter 
place  recently  (h--:'ril>e(i  by  j)arties  traveliii'i' 
overhxtiJ  to  Fraz  m's  River. 

The  followii!.;-  is  a  li.-t  of  th-  •'  Tables  of 
Distances"  furnished  : 

(A)  1st.  From  St.  Paul  to  Pembina,  via 
Crow  Winj;  and  the  '•  Woods  road.'" 

(B)  2d.  From  St.  Paul  to  Pembina,  via  St. 
Cloud.  Wiiite  Pear  Lake,  Graham's  Point,  und 
the  W.  side  of  Red  river. 

(C)  iJd.  From  St.  Paul  to  Pembina,  via  por- 
tions of  varioiis  routes. 

(D)  4th.  From  Preckinridi^e  to  ]*cnibina, 
by  the  channel  of  the  Red  River  of  the 
North. 

(E)  f)th.  From  Pembina  to  the  Roeky 
Mountains,  routes  and  portions  of  routes. 

A  few  remarlcs  ar(>  necessary  as  to  the  com- 
position of  the  tables. 

From  St.  Paul  *o  the  S"cnnd  crossing;  of  Ot- 
ter 'I'ail  river,  the  distances  are  jxivcn  Irom  the 
actual  survey  aiul  location  of  thi'- military  roads, 
tiiouj::'!  the  latter  por:i()ii  (from  Wadena)  of  the 
"  Ft.  Ripley  and  Ren  river  road"  notbeinj^  yet 
opened  out,  the  road  n-  at  pre.-i'ut  traveled  is 
necessarily  somewhat  iou'.rer  (abf)ut  S  miles) 
than  the  line  pivcn  in  the  tab'e.  The  Stati; 
road  from  St.  Cloud  to  Hreckiuridire,  in  like 
manner,  is  but  partially  constructed,  the  line 
us  surveyed  beinu'  at  lea-^t  IS  miles  ^iinrtcr  than 
that  (the  traveled  road)  ^^'iven  :  the  shortiiess  of 
notice  has  prevented  me  U'om  fuocurini^  iiiid 
inserting  said  surveyed  li'i.ulh  with  o.xactivss. 

From  the  si-cond  (a-'isqun'  of  Oder  Tail  riv- 
er to  JVmbina.  as  als  >  from  St.  Cloud  (via 
White  Bear  Lake  and  (iruham's  Point)  to 
Pembina,  the  distances  are  taken  from  tlie 
odometer  measureuiiiils  of  various  expeditions, 
but  as  in  their  details  they  olFer  many  discrep- 
ancies, I  have  thought  it  best  to  include  tbcra 


all,  so  that  the  observations  of  future  travelers 
may  decide  upon  their  relative  value. 

The  portions  of  other  land  routes  are  but 
estimated,  and.  of  course,  not  strictly  reliable. 

'i'he  routes  beyond  Pembina  are  mostly  from 
odometer  measurements. 

Alou!^'  tlie  channel  of  the  Red  River  of  the 
Xorth  th"  distances  arc  ascertained  with  com- 
))arative  exactness  from  Breckinridge  to  the 
month  of  P.uffalo  river,  the  forwardness  of  the 
U.  S.  Land  Surveys  in  the  Red  River  valley 
admitting  of  it;  but  from  BulTalo  river  to 
Pembina  Captain  Pope's  table  of  distances  has 
Ijccn  used.  Capt.  Pope  estimates  this  latter 
iiortion  of  the  river  as  248  miles  in  length,  but 
when  it  is  correctly  known,  by  survey.  I  do  not 
think  it  will  be  found  to  exceed  230  miles,  mak- 
ing the  actual  distance  by  water  from  Breck- 
inridge to  I'embina  about  3~0  miles.  Maj.  S. 
if.  Long,  in  182.'5.  stated  the  distance  from  the 
mouth  of  Red  Lake  to  Pembina  to  be  130 
miles. 

'I'he  following  summary  exhibits  the  relative 
lengths  of  the  detailed  routes  between  St.  Paul 
and  Pembina  : 

STATl^MFXT  OF  TOTAL  DISTANCES 

{Omitting  the  detours  spoken  of  abov».) 

Milis. 

1st.    Via  Crow  Wing  and  Detroit  Lake         413  to      424 

'2(1.     ?f.   Cloua.    Alpxandria,    Dayton,  and    tlie 

"forks  of  trail,"  Bay,    -  -  -      420 

8(3.  St.  Cloud,  Richmond,  White  Bear  Lake. 
KU)ow  Lake,  Dayton,  and  the  "forks," 
say  ....      445 

4th.  St.  Cloud,  Richmond,  White  Bear  Lake, 
(rraham'a  Point  ^al)out),  and  the  road 
ttiroufih  Dakota  Territory,  •  .      4$4 

.'itli.    St.  Oh  ud.  Richmond,   White   Bear  Lake, 

(li-aliam's  Point  (about),  and  the  river,  600 

(ith.  St  (,'loud,  Alexandria,  Daytou,  Breckin- 
ridge, and  the  river,  say,        -  -        .      690 

Ttli.    Ft.   Cloud,    Alexandria,  Dayton,  Breckin- 

riilge,  Shayenne,  and  the  river,  say,  695 

1  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
ALFRED  J.  HILL. 


ll 


26 


ti 

1 


III 


i:f  ll 


M 


tK 


i 


A. 

I'aWe  o/"  distances  from  St.  Paul  to  Pembina — 
Crow  IVing  or  Wooih  Road. 

I.    8T.  PAUL  TO  LAKE  FLOYD. 

United  States  Militarn  Road  Surveys,  1857. 


fROSI  ST.  PAUL  (fULLHB  HOUSK)  TO 

Mis. 

Total 

St,  Anthony  (opposite  the  Falls) 

9 

9 

Manomin                     .... 

;^ 

J6', 

Anoka  (east  of  Rum  river) 

10 

M'i 

Itasca            ..... 

tJM 

•M 

Orono(Klk  river)           -           -           -           . 

7 

40 

Humboldt  (Big  Lake) 

m 

4S'. 

Marseilles  (Bea-  Island) 

9 

^^'a 

Boyinpton's  Tayern 

4 

61  ■,; 

Clear  Lake         .           .           .           -           - 

4 

6.V', 

last  St.  Cloud  (Brantford  post  offlci) 

» 

74', 

Sauk  Rapids                   .... 

I> 

VVii 

Watab        -          -              ... 

b  '<. 

sa 

Langola         .            -              .          .           . 

12>r  95>, 

Swan  River           .               ... 

10 

105', 

Little  Falls               -                .           .           . 

S 

10<*« 

Belle  Prairie      .... 

f>}i 

114 

Olmstead's      -           -              .           .           . 

S}< 

Vi'lH 

Mouth  of  Nokay  river  (opposite  Fort  Ripley) 

14 

123 

Crow  Wing          .... 

7 

130 

Chippewa  Agency  at  Gull  River 

4)^ 

134 --i 

Opposite  mouth  of  Lonp  Prairie  river 

U)i  147 

Commencement  of   Grand    Marais — end  of 

built  road              -              -              -         - 

5 

l.VJ 

Crossing  of  Crow  Wing  river— Wadena 

8M 

160  » 

Crossing  of  Wing  river 

9V 

169»i 

Crossing  of  BluCf  creek 

12  V 

18ii 

Commencement  of  Leaf  Mountain 

6 

188 

Outlet  of  Leaf  Lake 

5 

19'! 

Leaf  City                     -               -               -      - 

2 

195 

Otter  Tail  City  (to  left  of  road) 

f>H 

First  crossing  of  Otter  Tail  river  (Rush  Lake 

7 

202 

Second    "                   " 

[end  of  surveyed  line 

16 

J18 

Third  crossing  of  Otter  Tail  rivtr  )  OdomtUr 

4H 

222  K 

Detroit  Lake— north  shore            >  nie.a»ure- 

10!^ 

2H3 

Lake  Floyd  (Bagle'i  Nest  Lake)  )    mentt. 

• 

239 

n. 


LAKE  FLOYD  TO  PEMBINA. 

Col.  Nobles.    1859. 


FROM  LAEI  FLOVO  TO 

North  end  of  small  lake  to  left  of  road 
Timbered  lake,  to  left 
Buffalo  river,  10  feet  wide,  1  foot  deep 
Dividing  ridge,  lake  and  timber 
Junction  of  St  Cloud  and  Pembina  trail 
Crossing  of  Wild  Rice  river,  85  feet  wide, 

2  feet  deep, 
Oroising  of  Wild  Rice  creek,  15  feet  wide, 

1  foot  deep 
Crossing  of  Sand  Hill  river,  80  feet  wide, 

IK  ^eet  deep 
Crossing  of  Sand  Hill  creek,  (12  feet) 
Bad  marshes       .  .  .  , 

Stony  butte  and  lake 
Small  creek,  water  in  holes 
Ciossing  of  Red  Lak«  river,  175  feet  wide, 

S;^  feet  4eep 
Small  lake  and  marsh 
Small  lake 

Coulee  .  .  .  . 

Crossing  of  Snake  fiver 
Crossing  of  Middle  river,  20  ft.  wide,  6  In.  d'p 
Crossing  of  Pine  river,  IS  ft,  widg,  1  ft,  deep 
Bend  of  Pine  river 
Small  creek 
Big  Point 

South  fork  of  Two  Rivers 
Mouth  of  Twa  Riven 
Femblia 


Mls.lTotal 

2M!241)tf 
fix;  246% 
6M'252 
SVi  260)-,' 
\.\%  272 


277 

282 


19%  801  Ji 
6  307% 
l,%|.309h 

11%  321  X 

3)»j324% 

4'i]8'.'9!< 
11     1340 X 
4%  345 
2^357^ 
4      3(il>tf 


7 
6 
4 

15ii 


III,    BSD  LAKB  RIVER  TO  PEMBINA. 

Col.  F.  L.  Smith.    1850, 


3S5 
400  !< 
406X 

411;!< 

424 


FBOM  IT,  FAQL  TO 

Mis. 

Total 

Red  river            .... 

329  W 

Small  lake 

IS 

,347  k 

Middle  river        .... 

17^ 

.364% 

Tamarac  ri  'er  (K.  aux  Eptnees) 

4 

,368',' 

Small  stream 

16?< 

885  «.- 

South  branch  of  Two  rivers 

11 

396V 

North  branch  of  Two  rivers 

4?i 

400  Vf 

Lac  du  Nord  Ouest 

11)^1412 

Pembina,  west  side  of  Red  river 

H 

412% 

B. 

Table  nf  distances  from  St.  Paul  to  Pembina — 
plain  trail. 


I. 


ROUTE  OF  MAJ.  WOODS  AND  CAPT,  POPE. 
June  and  July,  }  ^^9. 


FBOli  BT,  PAUL  TO 

Crossing  at  Sauk  Rapids 

Cold  Water  creek 

Crossing  of  Sauk  river  (Richmond) 

David  Lake  (now  Henry  Lake) 

Lake  Henrie  (now  Lake  George)     • 

Crossingof  Crow  river 

Lightning  Lake  (now  Grove  Lake) 

White  Bear  Lake 

Pike  Lake 

Main  branch  of  Chippewa  river 

Elk  Lake 

Tipsina,  or  Pomme  de  Terre  river 

Elbow  Lake 

Rabbit  River  (W.  branch  of  Pomme  de  Terre) 

Crossing  of  Otter  Tail  river 

Crossing  of  Red  river  (near  Oraham'a  Point) 

Crossing  of  Wild  Rice  river,  west 

Crossing  of  Shayenne  river 

Crossing  of  Maple  river 

Rush  river,  turned  it 

"  bend 

Point  of  ridge 
Main  branch  of  Elm  river 
South  branch  of  Gooso  river 
Salt  Lakes 

Main  branch  of  Goose  river 
Crossing  of  " 

Turtle  river 
Big  Salt  river 
Little  Salt  rivor 
Little  Hill  river 
Cart  river  (R,  do  la  Chavrette) 
Steep  Hill  river 
Heartshorn  river 

Mud  river  asd  commencement  Poplar  Isl'da 
Branch  of  Tongue  river 
Mouth  of  Pembina  river 


Mis. 


18 
5 

'4 

T 

8 
11 
14 
13 
11 

2 

5 
'0 

4 
■iO 
22 
13>.' 
11 
17 
18>^ 

9>i 
16 

8^ 
&h 

2>, 
18 

9 

18>, 

2>, 

2 

3 

7 
16 


Total 

78>i 
94  J^ 
99  .'i 
113^ 
120  !t 
128>i 
189>i 
16313, 
166;, 
1773^ 
179>i 
1845^ 
W}i 
198>, 
218  X 
2401, 
254 
266 
283 
300)^ 
310 
326 
888>,' 
342 
3503^ 
361 
363  >i 
881  >, 
401 
410 
*22>»' 
426 
427 
430 
437 
463 
4«3X 


II.    ROUTK  OF  SLLIS  SMITH  AND  FABT7. 

August,  1858. 


raOM  ST.  PAUL 

TO 

Mils, 

Total. 

OroBiIng  at  St,  Cloud,  say 

74.62 

Sauk  river  bridge 

• 

6.83 

81.83 

St.  Joseph 

4.94 

86.27 

Cold  Spring 

. 

9.88 

9615 

Sauk  river  ferry,  Richmond 

6.67 

101.72 

L«ke  Henry 

. 

15.80 

117.62 

Lake  George 

6.66 

123.18 

Crossing  of  Crow  river 

. 

10.27 

138.46 

Grove  Lake 

10.40 

143.85 

Chippewa  river 

. 

6.28 

149.0S 

White  Bear  Lake 

6.11 

165.19 

Little  Chippewa  river 

. 

17.62 

172,71 

Lake 

,84 

178.66 

Bapia  river,  (mftin  branch  of  Ohlppewa) 

7,11 

180.66 

NA. 


Mis. 

Total 

829!* 

18 

347!* 

4 

364?i 
368  V 

11 

8P5'4 
396  s 

4«l400X 
ll>il412 

embina- 


T.  POPE. 


Mis.  Total 

78>tf 

'.ft 

9iy, 

5 

99}i 

14      1 

13« 

T 

20  H 

8 

291,' 

11 

89  ,^ 

14 

1631, 

13 

166!, 

11 

1T7J^ 

2 

179  >.4 

5 

184  !< 

'0 

194« 

4 

198>, 

■10 

218  k 

22 

2401, 

13  J,' 

254 

11 

'265 

17 

281 

■  18  >i 

300)i 

9H 

310 

-  16 

326 

TH 

88a}, 

■    8Ji 

342 

Sh 

360  J^ 

•  10>4 

861 

2}, 

363>i 

-  18 

881  >, 

19  y. 

401 

.    9 

410 

12  >. 

422},; 

■    2'. 

,425 

2 

427 

■    3 

480 

Is    7 

437 

.16 

463 

iio> 

i463^ 

PARTT. 


i1 


Mils. 

L«ke  (Potnme  de  Terre  Lake)  8.07 

Pomme  de  Terr*  river  -  -    1.41 

Lake  (Elbow  Lake)  ■  -  9.22 

Lightning  Lake  -  -  •    6.62 

Crossing  of  Otter  Tail  river    -  -         15.42 

Crosding  Red  river  (near  Graham's  Point)  22.90 
Crossing  of  Wild  Rice  river,  west — bridged  11.39 
Crossing  of  Shayenne  river,  bridged  14.82 

Crossing  tf  Maple  river  -  -  1S.49 

Crossing  of  Rush  river  (creek  only)  7.61 

Ked  of  stream,  water  in  pools  (liush  river)    9.72 
"  "  ♦'  13.04 

Hemlock  river  (main  branch  Elm  river)  23. C2 
(ioose  river  (south  branch  of  ?)  6.0T 

Htream,  20  feet  wide         .  -  -11.79 

Stream,  20  ft.  wide  (Qocse  R.  main  branch)  5.97 
Lake  .       -  -  -  -    4.61 

Turtle  river  -  -  -         17.30 

Stream  ....    4.97 

Salt  river  (Little  Hill  river)  bridged  32.98 

Water  in  marshes  -  -  -  25.02 

Crossing  of  Pembina  river  (ferry)  Pembina{  16.30 


Total. 

188.78 
190.14 
199  36 
204.68 
220..30 
243.20 
254  69 
269.41 
2S7.90 
295  51 
305.28 
318  87 
342.4!) 
347.56 
.3,')9.35 
365.32 
369,93 
387.32 
392.29 
425.27 
450.29 
465.50 


C. 

Table  of  distances  of  portions  of  varions  ioth'ts 
htlween  St.  Paul  and  Pemhinu. 


I.    SAUK  RAPID3T0  8I0U.X  V.OOD  RIVKR. 

Gov.  Stevens'  Expedition.    June,  1853: 


FROM  SAUK  BAPIDS  TO 

JMls. 

Total 

Cold  Spring  brook 

-18 

IS 

Sauk  river  ford  (Richmond) 

1  6 

24 

Lake  Henry 

-  19  M 

■i-iy 

Branch  of  Crow  river,  20  feet  wide 

19 

biX 

Lightning  Lakes  (Grove  Lakes) 

!  95i 

62  V 

Branch  of  Chippewa  river,  20  feet  wide 

I  Ok 

tw^ 

White  Bear  Lake 

-   6 

i3J< 

Tributary  of  South  branch,  15  feet  wide 

.io;<; 

84 

Swift  brook,  6  feet  wide 

-  sy. 

8T!^ 

Pike  Lake 

i    1?4 

sav 

Chippewa  river,  124  feet  wide 

-  w\, 

99  V. 

KIk  Lake 

i    w, 

100 

West  branch  of  Chippewa  river  (Pomme  d 

e 

Terre)  140  feet  wid 

e,  8« 

108V 

Klbow  Lake 

-    934 

IITK 

Rabbit  river  (west  branch  of  Tlpglna) 

1^ 

123y, 

Small  brook,  12  feet  wide 

1  f>k 

128V 

Small  brook  (tributary  of  Rabbit  river) 

\n>i 

140>4' 

Bois  des  Sioux  river,  3  miles  above  mouth 

iio 

160^ 

II.    ST  CLOUD  TO  GEORGETOWN. 

Stage  and  Mail  Route— Table  prepared  bi/  Mr. 

B.  C.  Borden.    1859. 


1 

KROM   ST   CL 

Mils. 

Total. 

St.  Joseph 

74.62 

Cold  Spring 

6.83 

81.33 

Richmond 

4.94 

86.27 

Oak  Grove 

9.88 

96  15 

Sauk  Centre 

5.67 

101.72 

Kandotta 

16.R0 

117.62 

Osakis 

5.66 

123.18 

Alexan-lria 

10.27 

138.46 

Evansvllle 

10.40 

148.65 

Dayton  (Wascata  P.  0.) 

B.2S 

149.08              s 

Breckinridge 

6.11 

155.19             i 

Graham's  Point 

17.62,172.71              J 

Burlington 

.84|l7B.B5             1 

Shayenne 

7.11 

1180.66             A 

Georgetown 

by  land 


III.    ST.  CLOUD,  VIA  SIOUX  WOOD  R.,  TO  GOOSE  R. 

Col.  C.  F.  Smith.     August,  1856. 


KROM  ST.  CLOUD  TO  MlS. 

First  crossing  of  Bauk  River 
Cold  Water  creek 

Second  crossing  of  Sauk  river  (Richmond) 
Lake  Henry 

Lake  Mcleod  (Grove  Lake) 
Branch  of  Chippewa  river,  beyond  White 
Hear  Lake,  which  passed  to  left 
Pike  Lake 

Tipsina,  or  I'omme  de  Terre  river  | 

Elbow  Lake         .  .  -  - 

Rabbit  river  -  -  -        j 

Bois  des  Sioux  river,  about  4  m.  from  mouth 
Gr.iham's  Point  ~  "  " 

Wild  Hice  river,  west 

Shayenne  river  .  .  - 

Maple  river  -  .  - 

Crossing  of  Maple  river 
Creek  emptying  into  Maple  river 
Rush  river  ,  .  .  - 

Small  branch  of  Elm  river 
South  branch  of  Goose  river,  here  left  road 


Total 


3 

3 

14 

17 

6 

22 

18 

40 

16 

66 

185^ 

78  ?„ 

4V 

78 

18 

96 

18 

100 

lov 

119?i 

^'H 

137 

17 

164 

63<; 

160K 

15 

1761a 

13 

ISSJi 

8X 

191  ,V 

7 

198  V 

16M 

214Ji 

15 

229M 

n)i 

mh 

IV. 


DETROIT  LAKE  TO  GEORGETOWN. 

Bif  Mr.  Borden. 


Estimated 


56 


Elbow  Lake  to  Wascata,  about 

Wascata  (Dayton)  N.  to  forks  of  trail,  about 


18 
80    98 


VI. 

From  the  Upper  Sioux  Agency  (Yollow  Medicine) 
on  the  Minnesota  river,  to  Breckenrige.the  dis- 
tance, by  the  land  route,  is  at  least  126 


VII.     RAILROAD  LINE3. 

1st.  The  length  of  the  "  branch"  line  of  the  Minne- 
sota and  Pacific  Railroad  from  St.  Paul  to  St.  Vincent, 
as  far  as  surveyed  and  located,  to  Crow  Wing,  is  about 
125  Miles. 

2d.  The  length  of  the  main  line  of  the  same  railroad, 
as  surveyed  and  located  to  a  point  on  the  Sioux  Wood 
river  within  S  miles  of  Breckinridge,  is  about  207  miles. 


D. 


Breckinridge  to  Pembina  by  the  channel  of  the 
lied  liiier  of  (he  North. 


jMls. 

Total 

-'7 

7 

10 

17 

-    4'^ 

21^ 

I19J< 

41 

-iH 

68 

1  2 

60 

-'10 

70 

il2 

82 

-'22 

104 

27 

131 

-24 

155 

12 

167 

26 

193 

20 

213 

4 

21; 

FROM  BKXCKiVKiucE  {mouth  0/  iSioutt  Wood 
liiver)  TO 

Crossing  of  trail  -  -  - 

Graham's  Point 

Fort  Abercrombie 

Mouth  of  Wild  Rice  River  West  (Psihu  B.) 

"    Shayenne  river 
Village  of  Lafayette 

"         Shsyennc  -  -  - 

Mouth  of  Buiralo  river  (Georgetown) 

"    Elm  river  -  -  . 

"    Wild  Rice  river  East 

"    Goose  river        -  .  . 

"     R.  au  Marais  No.5(from  Penblna) 
[Sand  Hill  R?j 

"    t^and  Hill  rivpr  [R.  au  Marais  ?J 

'«    Coulee  des  Vaclies 

•♦    Coulee  de  la  Butte  de  Sable 

"    Coulecdu  Nez  Rouge 

"    Riviere  au  Marais,  No.  4 

««    Coulee  du  Jeune  Bauf 

"    La  Grand  Coulee 

"    Coon  creek 

"    Red  Lake  river  (La  Grand  Pouche) 

"    Coulee  de  L'Anglais 


\ 


Hla. 

5X 

t>2)i 

41V 
» 

26>i 

22Ji 

1 
?3« 


Total 

17 
23;i 
78 
117X 

ii8>r 

121 

128j^ 

168Ji 

160 

182.V 

18834' 
208V 


6>i212X 


1 

*yi 

8,i< 

3 

8 

7V 
4 


91 8X 
218 
236Jt 
229j|( 

240 
244 


4>fj248>f 


wmms 


», 


t; 


28 


Rtviere  au  Marala,  No.  8 

Turtle  river       -  • 

Riviere  au  Maraii,  No.  2 

Salt  river 

Riviere  au  Marais,  No.  1 

Park  river 

Riviere  aux  Epines 

Coulee  du  Boia  Percee 

Black  river 

Two  Rivers 

Pembina  river 


E. 


Mia.  Total 


18 

V4 
2'., 

3 

is,v 


2rK 

207 1-4' 

:i2l>. 
876>!^ 


Routes  and  portions  of  routes  to  t/ie  NortJi  and 
Northwest  of  Pemhina. 


I.    PEMBINA  TO  THE  FOOT  OF  THE  MOUNTAINS. 

W.  E.  Smith  and  G.  C.  Buriihnm.   1858. 


FBOU   PEMBINi.   TO 

Fort  Garry  ... 

Fort  EUice,  ascending  the  Assinlboine 
Touchwood  Hillg  Fort,  W.N.W.  course 
South  branch  of  the  Saikatchewnn,  do 
North  branch  of  do  do 

Crossing  the  north  branch  about  a  day 
and  a  half's  journey  west  of  Carlton 
to  Jack  fish  Lake  {per  Odomettr) 
Fort  Pitt,  -  -        e-.timated 

Edmonton         -  -  " 

The  foot  of  the  Mountains  " 


Miles.    Total. 


70.?8 
281 .29 
1 09.-47 
129.84 


10.5.10 

■7(1.00 

180.00 

ISO.WU 


70.23 

,80l..'-)2 
470.99 
fi  10.88 
655.21 


II.    PEMBINA  TO  FORT  ELLICE,  VIA  ST.  JOSEPH. 
Col.  \V.  11.  Nobles.     1859. 


VllOM     PItMUINA   TO 

SI.  Joseph  by  the  South  trail 

•  '     •  Nortli  trail     . 

St.  Josei)li  to  Oak  VillHi-'c.  .iliout 
Oak  Village  to  Fort  EUice,  about 

Whole  ditft>tiu-,u  to  Koit  Ellice,  about 


Miles.    Total. 

81  .\' I 
34  Ji  I 
142 

c: 

238 


in.     PEMlilNA  TO  THE  KOOTONAIS  FORT. 

Dr.  A.  J.  Tliihodo.     1859. 


FROM    PEIIBINA    TO 

Fort  Ellice  (via  Fort  Garry) 
Fort  t{u  Appelle  .  .  . 

Tlie  elbow  of  tlie  Sufil'Htehewan 
Tlie  entrance  of  ihe  Kootonais  Pass 
KdOtoiKiis  Fort 


Miles. 

.300 
126 
146 
546 
105 


Total. 


300 

420 

566 

1,112 

1,217 


IV.    I'EMDINA  TO  MOUTH  OF  RED  RIVER,  lyvaUr. 


rilO-\I    J'KMUIKA    TO 

760.81  i 

880  81  Fort   Gurry  (•:Mr;lliience  nf  AHsinbcme) 

1,010.81  ]  tstimiited 

1,190.31  j  Lake  AVinnipeK,  beycnd  tlie  delta,    " 


.Miles, 


1 00 

48 


Total. 


US 


JOSEPH. 


s.    Total. 


23S 


APPENDIX    "E." 


PORT. 


Total. 

300 

4-2rt 

5(iC 

1,112 


,  Jiy  vaUr. 


INCREASED  PRODUCTION  OF  CULTTVAT]-:D  PLANTS 
NEAR  THE  NORTHERNMOST  LIMIT  OF  TIILIll 
GROWTH. 

Extracts  frjm  an  article  upon  the  "Acclimating  Principle  of  Flimt^y  in  the  American  Jnuniiil  of 

Geolugij,  by  Dr.  Furry. 


Total. 


uo 


The  cultivated  plants  yield  the  greatest  pro- 
ducts near  tiie  uorthernrao.>t  limit  in  which  they 
will  grow. 

I  have  been  forcibly  impressed  with  this  fact, 
from  observing  the  productions  of  the  various 
plants,  which  are  cultivated  for  food  or  clothing 
in  the  United  States.  The  following  instances 
will  go  far  to  establish  the  principle,  viz : — 

The  cotton,  which  is  a  tropical  plant,  yields 
the  best  staple  and  surest  product  in  the  tem- 
perate latitudes.  The  southern  parts  of  the 
LTnited  States  ha.e  taken  the  cotton  market 
from  the  East  and  West  Indias,  both  as  regards 
quantity  and  quality.  This  is  partly  owing  to 
the  prevalence  of  insects  within  the  tro))ics, 
but  principally  to  the  forcing  nature  ofa  verti- 
cal sun.  Such  a  degree  of  heat  devolopes  tlic 
plant  too  rapidly — runs  it  into  wond  and  foli- 
age, which  become  injuriously  luxuriant ;  the 
consequence  is,  there  are  but  lew  seed  pods, 
and  these  covered  with  a  thin  harsh  coat  of 
wool.  The  cotton  wool,  like  the  fur  of  animals. 
is,  perhaps,  designed  for  protection  ;  and  will 
be  thick  and  lint?  in  proportion  as  the  climate 
is  warm  or  cool.  Another  reason  is  to  be 
found  in  the  providence  of  tlie  Deity,  who  aims 
to  preserve  races  rather  than  individuals,  and 
multiplies  the  seeds  and  eyes  of  plants,  exactly 
as  there  is  danger  of  there  being  destroyed  by 
the  severity  of  the  climate,  or  other  causes. 
When,  therefore,  the  cares  and  labors  of  man 
counteract  the  destructive  tendency  of  the  cli 
mate  and  guaranty  their  preservation,  they  are, 
of  course,  more  available  and  abundant. 

The  lint  plants,  flax,  hemp,  &c.,  are  culti- 
vated tlirough  a  great  extent  of  latitude,  but 
their  bark,  in  the  southern  climates,  is  hart-h 
aud  brittle.      A  warm  climate  forces  these 


plants  so  rapidly  into  maturity,  that  tlie  lint 
does  not  acciuire  eitlicr  consistency  or  tenacity. 
We  must  go  far  norlii  in  P^urope,  even  to  the 
Baltic,  to  find  these  plants  in  ])erfection,  and 
their  products  very  merchantable.  Ireland  is 
rather  an  exception  as  to  latitude  ;  but  the  in- 
fluence of  the  sun  is  so  effectually  counteracted 
there  by  moisture  and  exposure  to  the  sea  air, 
that  it  is  always  cool :  \wnce.  the  flax  and  po- 
tato arrive  at  such  perfection  in  that  region. 

Jt  holds  c([ualiy  truein  the  farinaceous  plants. 
Rice  is  a  tropical  plant ;  yet  Carolina  and 
Georgia  grow  the  finest  in  the  world  ;  heavier 
grained,  better  filled,  and  more  mercliantable, 
than  any  imported  into  Kuropefrom  the  Indies. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  Ivist  indies  derive  their 
subsistence  almost  exclusively  from  rice ;  they 
must  be  supposed,  therefore,  to  cultivate  it  with 
all  skill  and  care,  and  the  best  contrivances  for 
irrigation.  Such  is.  however,  the  forcing  na- 
ture of  their  climate,  that  the  plant  grows  too 
rapidly,  and  drib's  away  itefore  the  grain  be 
properly  filled.  Indian  corn,  or  maize,  if  not  a 
tropical  plant,  was  originally  found  near  the 
tropics  :  and  althongli  :1  now  occupies  a  wide 
ran'^'e,  it  produce^  i  he  lieaviest  crops  near  the 
northern  limit  ol  its  range.  In  the  West  Indies 
it  rises  thirty  feet  in  height;  but  with  all  that 
gigantic  size,  it  produces  only  a  few  <2rains  on 
the  bottom  of  a  spongy  cob.  and  is  counted  on 
only  as  ronsrli  pmvender.  In  the  Southern 
part  of  the  United  States,  it  rcachi  s  a  height  of 
fifieen  feet,  and  will  produ(;e  thirty  bushels  to 
the  acre ;  in  tlie  rich  lands  of  Kentucky  and 
the  Middle  States,  it  produces  fifty  or  sixty 
bushels  to  the  acre  ;  but  in  New  York  aud 
New  England,  agricultural  societies  have  actu- 
ally awarded  premiums  for  one  hundred  and 


V 


30 


m 


fifty  bushels  to  the  aero,  colleclod  from  stalks 
only  seven  feet  hijrh.  The  heats  ot  a  Southern 
sun  develope  the  juices  of  this  plant  too  tjuickly. 
They  run  into  culm  and  blade,  to  the  neglect 
of  the  seed,  and  dry  away  Id'fore  frHctilictition 
becomes  complete. 

Wheat  is  a  more  certain  crop  in  Xow  V'ork, 
the  northern  part  of  Peiinsylvunia,  and  Ohio, 
a'd  in  the  Baltic  reuioiis  of  Murope,  than  in 
the  south  either  of  Hurope  or  Anicricii.  In  the 
north,  snows  accumulate,  and  not  only  protect 
it  from  the  winter  colds,  but  from  the  weevil, 
Hessian  Hy,  and  other  insect'^  that  invade  it: 
and  in  the  sprinir  it  i.-«  notlorciii  too  rapidly 
into  head,  without  tiiiic  i<i  nuUure  fully,  and 
concoct  its  farina. 

A  cold  climate  also  aids  tlie  manulacluring 
of  flour,  preserving  it  from  acidity,  and  enables 
us  to  keep  it  long,  either  for  a  good  market,  or 
to  meet  scarcities  and  cni.'rgt'ncif-.  ( )atsgrow 
in  almost  every  country  :  but  it  is  in  northern 
regions  only,  or  veiy  moist  or  elevated  tracts, 
that  they  fill  with  farina  suitiible  for  human 
sustenance,  live,  oarlry,  buekwhcat,  millet, 
and  other  culmiferous  pl.uiis,  might  l)e  adduced 
to  illustrate  the  above  ))rincipk' :  fur  all  their 
habits  require  a  more  northern  latitude  than  ia 
nece&sary  to  their  more  grovvtli. 

The  grasses  are  proverbially  iu  pt'rfeetinii 
only  in  northern  and  cool  regions,  altliough 
they  will  grow  everywhere.  It  is  in  llie  north 
alone  that  we  raise  animals  from  meadows,  and 
are  enabled  to  keep  them  fal.and  in  good  condi- 
tion, from  hay  and  gniss  alone,  without  grain. 
It  is  there  the  grasses  acfiuin;  a  succulence  and 
consistency  enough,  not  only  to  mature  animals, 
but  to  make  the  richest  butter  and  cluii'se.  tliat 
contribute  so  much  to  the  tables  of  the  luxuri- 
ous. The  grasses  wh'w.h  do.  ofti.'u,  in  the  south, 
grow  large  enough,  are  without  richness  and 
nutriment;  in  hay,  they  have  no  substance; 
and  when  green  arc  too  washy  to  fatten  ani- 
mals ;  the  consequence  is.  most  animals  in  those 
latitudes  browse  from  necessity,  and  are  poor 
and  without  size  or  beauty,  ft  is  the  same  hot 
sun  which  forces  them  to  a  rapid  fructification, 
before  they  have  had  time  to  concoct  their 
juices.  The  sugar  cane  produces,  perhaps,  bet- 
ter where  it  never  seeds,  than  in  the  tropics  : 
for  the  juices  will  never  ripen  so  as  to  granu- 
late, until  checked  by  frost  or  fructification. 
In  the  tropics,  the  cane  grows  twenty  months 
before  the  juices  ripen  ;  and  then  the  culm  has 
contracted  a  woody,  fibrous  quality,  to  such  a 
degree  as  to  resist  the  pressure  of  the  mills,  and 
yields  but  little  juice,  and  that  to  an  increased 
eftbrt.  In  Louisiana  we  succeed  well  with  the 
sugar  culturp  ;  because,  while  the  culm  is  suc- 
culent an  v/iider,  a  white  frost  checks  the 
growth,  ripens  the  juices  and  in  five  months 
gives  us  a  culm,  tender,  full  of  juice,  easy  to 
press,  and  yielding  much  grain  of  sugar.  When 
Louisiana,  therefore,  acquires  all  the  necessary 
skill,  she  will  most  probably  grow  this  article 
cheaper  than  the  West  Indies. 

Tooacco  is  a  southern  plant,  but  there  it  is 


always  light  and  chaffy  ;  and  although  often 
well-flavored,  it  never  gains  that  strong  narcotic 
(lualily  which  is  its  only  pecidiar  property,  un- 
h'.ss  you  grow  it  as  fur  north  as  Virginia.  In 
the  south,  the  heat  unlolds  its  bud  or  germ  too 
soon,  forces  into  full  expansion  the  leaf,  and 
drives  it  to  seed  before  the  narcotic  (juality  can 
be  properly  elaborated.  We  may  assert  a  gen- 
eral rule  appii(!aL'lG  to  all  anmuil  plants,  that 
neither  the  root  nor  the  leaf  ac(juires  any  further 
size  or  substance  after  fructification. 

The  tubei'ose,  bulbous,  mid  oilier  roots,  ctd- 
tivated  for  human  and  aniuuil  subsistence,  are 
similai'ly  allectod  by  climate,  and  manifest  ha.,  its 
in  corroboration  of  the  above  ])rinciple.  The 
Irish  jiotato,  although  from  or  near  the  tropics, 
will  not  come  to  perlc-ction  but  in  northern  or 
cool  countries,  or  in  moist,  insular  situations,  as 
Ireland.  Jt  is  jn  such  climates  alone,  that  its 
roots  acquire  a  farinaceous  consistence,  and 
have  size,  llavor,  and  nutriment  enough  to  sup- 
port, in  the  eminent  way  in  which  they  are  sus- 
ceptible, animal  life.  In  the  south,  a  forcing 
sun  firings  the  potato  to  fructification  before 
the  roots  have  had  time  to  attain  their  proper 
size,  or  rii)en  into  the  proper  ((ualities  lor  nour- 
ishment. In  Ireland  the  plant  grows  slow, 
through  a  long  and  eool  season,  giving  time  for 
itsjuiees  to  be  elaborated  and  properly  digested  ; 
hence  that  fine  farina  and  flavour  which  char- 
acterizes tliem.  The  sweet  potato  produces 
larger,  better  flavored,  and  more  numerous 
roots  in  (Jai'olina.  where  it  never  flowers,  than 
in  the  West  Indies.  In  the  latter  place  this 
plant  runs  wild,  covers  the  whole  face  of  the 
earth  with  its  vines,  and  is  so  taken  up  with 
making  foliagi'.  that  the  root  becomes  neglected, 
and  is  small  and  woody.  In  order  to  have  the 
onion  in  perfection,  it  must  grow  through  two 
years,  swellinir  all  the  time  its  bulbs,  in  the 
south,  however,  it  se(>ds  in  one  (j^ear,  and  before 
it  has  made  much  bulb.  IJeets,  carrots,  pars- 
nips, turnips,  radishes,  and  other  roots,  are 
equally  affected  by  a  hot  sun,  and  scarcely 
worth  cultivating  far  to  the  south.  They  all 
fructify  before  they  have  formed  perfect  roots, 
and  make  foliage  at  the  expense  of  their  bulbs  ; 
hence  they  will  always  be  articles  of  commerce ; 
the  south  will  have  to  depend  upon  the  north 
for  them. 

The  salad  plants  are  in  like  manner  affected 
by  climate,  and  give  further  proofs  of  our  as- 
sumption. Cabbages,  lettuces,  endive,  cellery, 
spinagc,  plants  whose  leaves  only  are  eat,  to 
protect  their  leaves  from  cold  (through  a  kind 
of  instinct.)  wrap  them  up  in  leaves,  which  form 
heads,  and  render  many  of  their  other  parts 
tender  and  crisp  for  use.  These  leaves,  thus 
protected,  are  not  only  tender,  but  more  nutri- 
tious, because  their  growth  has  been  slow  and 
their  juices  well  digested.  In  the  south,  a  re- 
laxing sun  lays  open  the  very  buds  of  such 
plants,  gives  a  toughness  and  thinness  to  the 
leaves,  and  they  are  too  unsubstantial  for  ani- 
mal support,  because  of  such  (juick  and  rapid 
dcvelopement. 


81 


i<fh  oltoii 

narcotic 
lerty,  un- 
inia.  In 
perm  too 

leaf,  and 
lality  can 
?rt  a  gcn- 
iints,  that 
ly  further 

roots,  ciil- 
tciic".  are 
lest  habits 
pie.  Tiu; 
10  tropics, 
n'thern  or 
nations,  as 
le,  that  its 
once,  and 
r\i  to  sup- 
.>y  are  sus- 

u  forcing 
.ion  before 
eir  proper 
s  for  nour- 
'ows  slow, 
ig  time  for 
y  digested ; 
/hicii  char- 
I   produces 

numerous 
)wers,  than 

place  thia 
\ice  of  the 
:en  up  with 
i  neglected, 
to  have  the 
irough  two 
)y.     In  the 

and  before 
rrots,  pars- 
roots,  are 
id  scarcely 
They  all 
?rfect  roots, 
heir  bulbs ; 

commerce ; 

n  the  north 

ner  affected 
's  of  our  as- 
live,  cellery, 
are  eiit,  to 
lugh  a  kind 
,  which  form 
other  parts 
leaves,  thus 
more  nutri- 
en  slow  and 
south,  a  re- 
ads of  such 
inoss  to  the 
itial  for  ani- 
sic and  rapid 


The  delicious  and  pulpy  fruits  are,  in  a  still 
more  striking  way,  illustrative  of  our  principle. 
The  peach,  nectarine,  jihiiii,  apple,  cherry,  cur- 
rant, gooseberry,  apricot,  and  many  other  such 
families,  are  not  in  perfection  in  the  south.     It 
is  in  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  Maryland,  tkrscy 
and  in  the  north  of  Europe  that  we  enjoy  thern, 
although,  originally,  tliey  cuao  Ironi  near  tlie 
tropics.    The  p;>ii('h  of  the  (.'arolinas  is  full  of 
larva',  gum  and  knots;,  and  too  stringy  and  forced 
to  bu  jaicy  and    ilavond.     'I"lu;   iippK'  of   the 
south  is  too   acerb  lo    In;   cilhcr  raten  or  pre- 
served.   'J'lie  pluins,  apricols,  eiiorries,  currants, 
gooseberries,  ice.  will  not  even  mature  until  we 
go  far  north.     All  the  trees  which  bear  these 
delicious  fruits   will   grow    luxuriantly    in  tiie 
south,  make  much   foliage  and  wood,  with  but 
little  pulp,  and  that  unsavoury,     'i'hc  kernel  in 
the  one-seeded  fruit  seems  to  he  first  oliject  of 
nature  in  southern  climes  :  that  becomes  strong, 
oily,  and  enlarged  ;  ai'.d  one  of  the  peach  family 
has  so  entirely  negleeled   the   pul)),  that  it  has 
only  a  husky  matter  around   the  kernel,  as  the 
almond,    'i'he  changealjlenoss  of  the  weather  in 
the  south,  in  tlie  spring   season,  throws  ])lants 
off  their   iruard  ;  the  frosts   adendani  on  those 
changes  d'.'stroy  the  young  fruit ;  and  it  is  only 
one  year  in  three  that  the  crop  liits  at  all.  The 
desiccated  or  driinl  state  of  these  fruits  enables 
us  to  enjoy  them  through  the  year  ;  but  in  the 
south  their  acidity  carries  tiiem  into  fermenta- 
tion or  decomposition  before  they  can  be  di- 
vested of  their  a<jueous  parts.     The  climate  of 
the  south  is   e(|ually  against   converting   tliem 
into  cider,  or   any  other  fermented  liquor,  bo- 
cause  the  heat  forces  their  compressed  juice  mi 
rapidly  into  an  active  fermentation,  that  it  can- 
not easily  be  checked  until  it  passes  into  vine- 
gar.   For  the  same  reasi^n  distillation  goes  on 
badly  in  hot  climates,  and  cannot  be  cliecked 
long  at  the  proper  point  to  give  much  alcoliol : 
and  whether  we  airii  to  enjoy  the  delidiousfresli- 
mt-fi  of  these  fruits  themselves,  sip  the  nectarin 
of  their  juices,  refresh  oi:''selve3  with  their  fer- 
mented  beverage,  stimulate  our   hearts  witii 
their  brandies  and  cordials,  or  feast  through  the 
winter  upon  the  dried  or  preserved  stores  of  their 
fruits,  we  are  continually  balked  by  the  severity 
of  a  southern  climate,  and  for  such  enjoyment 
must  look  to  the  north. 

The  melons  are  always  aifected  by  too  great 
a  degree  of  heat,  even  though  their  vines  flourish 
so  much  in  southern  latitudes.  The  forcing  sun 
hurries  them  on  to  maturity  before  they  have 
attained  much  size,  or  accjuircd  that  ricli  sac- 
charine and  aromatic  flavor  for  wliich  they  are 
so  much  esteemed.  The  cantelope-melon  will 
rot,  or  have  its  sides  baked  by  a  hot  sun,  before 
it  is  fully  formed  :  and  the  water-melon  is  al- 
v,-;iys  woody,  dry,  and  devoid  of  ils  peculiar 
sweetness  and  richness  in  the  south.  Vines 
have  been  known  to  run  one  hundred  feet,  and 
bear  no  melon.  It  is  in  Philadelphia  and  its 
neighborhood,  and  in  similar  latitudes  that  the 
markets  are  loaded  with  delicious  melons  of  all 
sorts,  whose  flavor  so  much  refresh  and  delight 


u«.    It  is  there,  near  their  northern  limit,  that 
we  cultivate  them  with  such  uniform  success. 

The  orange,  strictly  i.  tropical  plant,  is  more 
juicy,  larg(!  and  delicious  at  St.  Augustine 
(li'loridii.)  than  at  Havana;  and  fruiterers,  in 
order  to  recommend  an  orange,  will  say  that  it 
is  from  some  place  out  of  the  tropics.  In  the 
NVe-t  Indii.-s,  the  ])ulp  of  the  orange  is  spungy, 
l)adly  filled  with  juice,  and  has  too  much  of  a 
forced  flavor  to  be  ])liasant.  The  hot-house 
forcers  rf  Kurope,  or  at  Home,  anciently  at  first 
prodiKcd  bad  fruit  :  too  dry,  too  small,  and 
witlmut  llavor  ;  Ijecuise  they  overacted.  They 
have  lately  found  out  that  fact,  and  now  the 
])roductions  of  the  liot-houses  of  fjondon,  Paris, 
cVc,  a.!toriish  and  delight  us  with  the  (juantity 
and  excellence  (»f  tiio  fruit,  Tliey  have  found 
out  that  gr.adual  and  uniform  heat  is  the  desid- 
eratum ;  countervailing  the  cold  rather  than 
impnriing  much  hi  at.  Fruit  thus  produced  is 
pronounced  better  tlian  any  "■rown  in  the  nat- 
ural way,  however  perfect  the  climate. 

Tlie  juices  of  the  grape  are  best  matured  for 
wine  near  the  northern  limit  of  their  growth. 
On  the  Rhino,  in  lTunf''ary,  the  sides  of  the 
Alps,  and  in  other  elevated  or  northern  situa- 
tions, the  wine  i.-  strongest,  richest,  and  most 
esteemed.  The  French  wines  rank  before  the 
Spanish  and  Italian  :  and  in  no  southern  coun- 
try of  Europe  or  Atrica, except  Madeira,  where 
elevation  makes  th''  difference,  is  the  wine  in 
much  repute.  'I'lie  grapes  of  France  are 
mum  delicious  fur  the  table  than  those  of 
.Si)ain  or  Madeira.  In  the  northern  part  of 
the  I.  iiilfd  States,  the  excess  of  heat  and  mois- 
ture i)!igiits  the  grape  to  such  an  extent  that  all 
attempts  have  failed  in  its  cultivation.  'J'he 
grape-vine,  however,  whether  wild  or  cultivated 
grows  there  very  luxuriantly.  The  vinous  fer- 
mentation can  also  be  best  conducted  in  a  cli- 
mate comparatively  cool ;  and  all  the  pressing, 
fermenting  and  distillation  of  the  juice  of  this 
delicate  fruit  can  be  safer  and  more  profitably 
managed  in  a  mild  region. 

The  olive,  and  other  oleaginous  plants,  yield 
more  fruit,  of  a  richer  flavor,  and  can  be  better 
pressed,  and  the  oil  preserved,  in  a  mild  climate. 
In  France;  the  tree  is  healthier,  and  the  fruit  and 
oil  better  than  in  Spain  or  Italy  ;  and  the  Bar- 
bary  States  are  known  to  import  their  oil  from 
France  and  Italy. 

Many  otlier  plants  might  be  named,  whose 
habits  would  er|ually  support  our  position.  It 
is  presumed,  however,  that  enough  have  been 
cited  to  call  th(!  attention  of  philosophy  to  this 
curious  sultjeet,  and  enable  us  to  give  proper 
attention  to  it,  in  all  the  practical  operations  of 
agricultural  pursuit.  i\Iuch  time  and  expense 
might  be  saved,  and  profits  realized,  if  this  were 
more  generally  understood. 

W(>  have  already  oliserved,  that  the  heat  of 
the  sun  in  southern  climes  forces  plants  to  a 
false  maturity,  runs  them  on  too  rapidly  to 
fructification,  and  renders  dry  and  woody  the 
culms,  stalks  and  leaves  of  the  plants,  where 
these  parts  are  used.    Hence  the  chafliness  of 


Bi 


Hi; 


the  leaf,  the  dryness  oF  the  culm,  the  lightncas 
of  the  grain,  and  th<;  unsavory,  spongy  quality 
of  the  pulp  of  the  plants  in  those  latitudes. 
Hence  the  difficulty  of  fermontinjjf  their  juices, 
distilling  their  essences,  and  prcservinir  for  use 
the  fruit,  juice,  or  hhides  of  such  plants.  'I'lio 
prevalence  of  insects  is  another  bar  to  the  pro- 
ductiveness of  southern  jilants  ;  swarms  of  tliem 
invade  and  strip  the  leaves,  bnre  the  fruit,  and 
lead  to  blight  and  dec(jnipositioti  ;  and  j'lst  in 
proportion  as  the  labors  of  m;\n  hiive  rendered 
plants  succulent,  and  their  fruits  and  seeds  sweet 
and  pleasant,  do  these  insects  multiply  on  them, 
devour  their  crops,  and  defe;'.*  the  objects  of 
hasbandry. 

The  labor  of  man  too  is  more  conservative 


in  northern  climates,  because  his  arm  is  better 
nerved  for  exercise,  his  health  and  spirits  more 
buoyant ;  and  instead  of  saying  "  Go  and 
j  work,"  he  says,  '•  Come  and  work  :"  treads  with 
i  a  cheerfid  heart  upon  his  own  soil,  and  assists 
I  in  the  cultivation,  collection  and  preservation  of 
his  own  productions.  It  is  in  temperate  cli- 
mates that  man  can  be  most  familiar  with  na- 
ture ;  it  is  there  he  has  the  best  opportunities 
of  ol)serving  the  guarantees  which  natiire  has 
for  the  jireservaticn  of  her  animals  and  plants 
against  the  devastation  of  the  elements  ;  he  sees 
an  occasional  apparent  neglect  of  individuals, 
V)ut  a  constant  jiarental  care  of  races.  In  every 
thing  he  sees  the  wisdom  and  benevolence  of 
God. 


I    i' 


j 

i 
I 
■ 


[11  is  better 
lirita  more 
"  Go   and 
treads  with 
and  assists 
ervution  of 
iporatc  cli- 
iir  with  na- 
portunitics 
nature  has 
and  plants 
Its  ;  lie  sees 
individuals. 
.     In  every 
icvolence  of 


APPENDIX    "F" 


PROF.  M.  R  MAURY  AND  l^ACIFIC  RAILROADS— THE 
PHYSICAL,  COMMERCIAL  AND  .AHLITARY  NECESSI- 
TY OF  TWO  RAILROADS,  ONE  NORTH  AND  ONE 
SOUTH. 


[At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  of  the  city  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota, 
held  on  Saturday,  January  22,  1859,  at  tlic 
Room  of  the  Chamber,  Col.  D.  A.  Robertson 
submitted  a  letter  of  Commander  M.F.Maury, 
U.  S.  X.,  (Superintendent  of  the  Observatory 
at  Washington,)  upon  the  subject  of  Pacific 
Railroads. 

On  motion  of  Gov.  Alexander  Ramsey,  Col. 
Robertson  was  requested  to  furnish  a  copy  of 
the  same  for  publication,  it  being  in  the  esti- 
mation of  the  Chamber  the  most  able  exposi- 
tion of  the  subject  treated  upon  ever  written. 

The  request  of  the  Chamber  was  complied 
with  as  follows :] 


St.  Paul,  Jan.  24, 1859. 

Dear  Sir — I  venture  to  comply  with  your 
request  in  behalf  of  the  St.  Paul  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  to  furnish  a  copy  of  Commander 
Maury's  letter  o(  the  4th  inst.  for  publication,  | 
(striking  out  the  portion  of  a  private  nature.) 

In  doing  so,  it  is  proper  to  remaric  that  the 
letter  was  written  in  the  course  of  private  cor- 
respondence, yet,  in  furnishing  it  for  publication, 
I  confidently  rely  upon  the  acquiesencc  of  its 
distinguished  and  patriotic  author.  Its  con- 
tents, especially  at  this  time,  are  of  too  much 
national  value  to  be  allowed  to  remain  in  the 
obscurity  of  any  private  hand.  May  I  not  say, 
with  safety,  that  the  scientific,  geographical  and 
commercial  facts  therein  presented,  with  such 
transcendent  ability  and  high  authority,  settle 


the  whole  question  so  long  debated  about  routes 
and  roads  to  the  Pacific  ? 
Yours  truly, 

D.  A.  Robertson. 

'I'o  Wm.  R.   Marshall,  Esq.,   President  St. 
Paul  Chamber  of  Commerce. 


OusEavATORv,  Washington,   i 
January  4,  1859.      \ 

Ml/  Dear  Sir : 

■vr  *  v:-  * 

I  have  often  wished  that  the  question,  pure 
and  simple,  Railroad  or  no  Railroad  to  the 
Pacific,  could  be  put  to  the  popular  vote  of  the 
nation.  Xevor.  since  the  Memphis  convention 
of  1849,  should  I  have  had  any  doubt  as  to  the 
result.  The  vote  would  be  largely  for  the 
road. 

While  all  admit  the  importance  of  one  or 
more  such  railways,  there  lias  been  such  a 
diversity  of  opinion  as  to  routes  and  plans,  that 
no  one  route  has  as  yet  met  with  friends  enough 
to  carry  it  through  in  spite  of  its  rivals,  and  I 
do  not  think  that  it  ever  will. 

Two  roads  at  least  are  necessary.  At  least 
two  roads— one  at  the  North,  the  other  at  the 
South,  are  reiinircd  for  the  common  defence. 
At  least  two  roads — one  at  the  South,  the  other 
at  the  North — are  necessary,  socially  and  com- 
mercially :  for  by  two  roads  so  placed,  the 
markets  of  Cliinii.  .lapan,  and  the  Amoor,  will 
be  brought  nearer  to  us  by  many  days' sail  than 
it  is  possible  lor  one  road  to  bring  them.  This 
may  sound  paradoxical ;  yet  I  hope,  before  I 
am  done,  to  explain  the  paradox  lo  your  satis 
faction. 

Let  us  first  consider  the  importance  of  two 
roads  in  their  military  aspect.  Vancouver 
Island  commands  the  shores  of  Washington  and 
Oregon ;    and  whether  the  terminus  of   the 


,J^ 


34 


% 


Northern  i  oud  li;'  on  Tup'ot  Snnixl  or  nt  tlin 
nioutli  of  llif  ("oliiinliiii  river,  llic  nii;niti(in< 
wnt  tliiTo  coultl  I);'  ii<iil  Inr  in)  dtiicr  ]>;iil  ol' 
tlic  coiust,  I'nr  \  iiiK'Oiivi'r  ()\\'r!i)ol<^<  then,. 

They  cnuhl  nut,  on  uceoiint  d'  N'anennver  in 
itH  iiiilitiiry  iispecb'.  I)e  s:iit  tVom  the  niii'thei'n 
tcrnuniis  to  San  J''itiiici:-et>  lunl  the  .South; 
nor  c'ouhl  the  Southern  roaii— sniiposin,:,''  only 
one,  anil  that  at  the  So;'.:!;— send  supplies  ni 
war  Ironi  its  lernrnni-'.  whether  ut  San  l>i(iro 
or  Sim  Franei^.'",  Iiy  srii  (lii.er  Ut  < 'tfion  or 
Wasliinfi'ton.  \'hne"UV(r  would  prevent,  lor 
A'aneoiiver  cnmaiiinil-i  tlieir  (.'oasIs  iiseoniplete- 
ly  as  Knfilanii  tominanils  those  ol  Fraiiee  on 
tlio  Atla.itie.  ^o  eoiuplet'  is  iliis  niilitary  enr- 
tain  thiit  yi  \!  ;ievei-  he;iri!  dt  l''rani'e  en  ti;i' 
Atlantic  semlin;;'  .s'ldor  liv  sea  to  Franee  (^ii 
the  Me(litl(  irarK':in,  or  tiie  reverse,  in  a  war 
with  Kiip'Iand.  'i'lr.'  Siraits  ol  l'"iiea  ai'e  as 
clo-io  as  the  Straiis  ol  (iil-;iilt.ir. 

In  prepaiiii;;'  tor  the  nationai  ileienses  ol'  the 
Paeitic,  lliis  lad,  and  the  i'act  tliat  Vancouver 
Island  is  in  the  iiiui'l^  of  a  l'oreij;ii  oower.  are 
•well  calcnlali'd  to  impress  |ieeuliar  leiiuins 
upon  any  sy.-!eni  !i:al  may  lie  adopitd. 

liul  i  promised  to  explain  wl,y  two  road-:, 
one  at  the  South,  the  oiIht  a',  the  North,  will 
briny  the  ni.iikels  oi  A,-iii  nmeh  eearer  to  us 
than  eitlu  r  road,  siii;;ly,  wouhl  nr,il;e  iheni. 

J5elore,  however.  1  iio  into  tliat  explanaiie.ii. 
let  us  clear  aw.-.y  s-nie  ol  the  e'.i:!aeli  s  whieli 
error  ha-'  placed  iii  the  v.ay  oT  a  Jsorlhern 
route  to  the  I'ticilie. 

Mosi  men  \>\  om-  a,i;(.'  wei'e  edr.ealrd  !:m  \r 
the  belief  that  Jiandlels  of  latitnd,-  and  \v\-X'.-,- 
trial  eliniaies  aie  eorreiativ.s  ;  thai  wo  iniuiir 
tell  the  teni|ieratin'e  oi'  any  unknown  eonniry 
or  region  of  eivanlry,  il  we  knev/  its  latitude. 

JInnd)oiiiL  aiii 
their  i.-otheniial  Hms.  pur  e.\aini»le,  Iheysliow 
that  the  mean  aniu.id  temperatare  of  \orth 
Cape,  lat.  Tt)'^  in  i'AUVipe.  Is  the  same  as  lii.it 
along'  the  north  siioreoi  La.l^r  .-^iip  i  ioi-,  in  lai. 
.'50^.  lloro  is  a  dilleivnee  'jI'  ::(i  =  of  lat. 
without  any  diU'.'ivnc.  in  the  aveir/:v  animal 
teniperatnro  ol' the  two  places. 

There  is  a  ditT.roiu'e  in  t!ie  leiiL'lh  of  day  ar,d 
night  a:  the  two  p;.i.-(s,  i.ial  >o  i'lU' as  cliinale 
is  aR'ected  by  dillercnec  i.;  I  lie  lenidh  of  day 
and  iiijilit.  ('iir;i;ite  is  to  I'.iut  exti  ni,  and  no 
farther,  an  iiiV.dr  of  iatiaide.  l^ui  with  diller- 
ences  in  kr.ath  ai  day  and  iii!;ii;.  the  relation.s 
between  elinuite  and  latiiieie  eeas'.  'i'he  ther- 
mometer and  l.yjiro;!uJer  th;  n  liecoiaeliic  true 
exponents  ut  elimaie.  I'lviTy  reunion,  indeed, 
telKs  the  whole  sinry  orils  eliinutes  l)y  its  flora. 

Let  us  set  rid  then  of  our  old  nmions  c.n- 
cerninn'  the  relations  td'lalitnde  fo  climate,  and 
with  unbiassed  uiiruls  i.iy  oat  this  north  teniper- 
ate  zo;ie,  wiiieli  w-;  hili.iljit.inlo  tliennal  bands, 
and  tin  n  study  the  lloru  of  these  band^.  Alter 
we  shall  have  done  tlds,  the:i  I  think  we  will 
be  able  to  af.';ree,  at  lea-L  anauig  ourselves,  as  to 
the  necessity  of  t.vo  routes  to  the  I'acific. 
Moreover,  we  can  si'lect  those  route's  that  will 
be  the  best  agrieulmrally  and  eommetcially  ; 


arid\\hf'n  wo  shall  finish  with  this  investij;ation. 
_\ou  will  lind  tt';it  these  two  routes  lie  exactly 
wiiere  |||.'  bi'>i  ji;aM  ol' national  deleu'^e  re(|uirc.-' 
them — tlie  .\o!L'',ern  route  comniiiieinij:  at  the 
wi.sttrn  Ixauidary  of  Minnesota,  and  <,'niii;r  to 
I'liijetV  .^ound.  with  a  luaneli,  in  tlic  ennr-c  of 
time,  tn  the  mouth  of  thi'  Columbia — the 
.'^(Uithuii  route  commencinir  at  Kl  Puso  in 
Texas,  and  \r<A\\<;i  (hence  to  S;in  Diesro  and  San 
Francisco. 

i  speak  of  thc>n  routes,  as  the  routes  which 
coninioree  and  a'.q'icult;ir(!  as  well  as  war  re- 
quire. The  eleimnls  indicate  tluni.  I  phice 
liie  climatology  of  these,  the  a'jricidtuial  and 
commercial  r  sources  of  the  reLi;i(ins  through 
which  1i;ey  ymss  in  the  Siina'  catcirory,  because 
coinmerc''  is  based  mi  dill'evence  of  imrie'iilinrid 
]M'oductioiis,  and  dilli'renee  of  iirodiic(ii)iis  is  an 
allair  of  eiima1<?  altogether.  'I'herefore.  i;i 
stndyiim'  climates  and  routes  we  study  variety 
of  ]i(oduclion,and  cannot  he'p  !o(;kinj4'  at  theni 
in  their  commercial  aspects. 

'i'lie  Army  .Meteorolo:!icul  ()b-ervation-;, 
Jliod-eiV  Cli'matoioMT  of  the  United  States, 
and  ifnve'i  1-oiherniul  Maps,  enable  ns  fo  di- 
vid.e  thai  portion  (^f  the  iK-rtlieni  temperate 
zone  occupied  by  the  Utiitcd  .States,  into  two 
jiranei  and  cliar..cteiiUio  thermal  liands. 

The  fauna  and  the  llor.i  of  these  two  bands 
d'.'i'ei'.  'I'he  pe'opie  dilU'i*—  tl;''ir  climates  dil?er 
— the  induslrial  pnrsniis  in  them  dider — and, 
theret'ore.  1  call  them  araud  and  strikinij;  sub- 
division-. 

.Speaking  in  a  f,'enerai  way,  the  United  States 
lie  b'.twi  en  the  mean  amiiud  isotherms  oi .');")  * 
and  TO  ~  . 

Take  a  school  map  of  the  world  and  let  ns 
draw  with  a  pencil  these   isotherms  across  I'lu- 


)(;ve  e.\j)iode<l  this  idea  with      nepe,  Asia,  :md  Africa  also. 


i?eainnin!.'.'  on  the  we.-t  coast,  with  the  pencil 
at  Sitka,  draw  it  witii  a  Iree  liiuid  tiience 
thruu.u'k  tiie  mouih  of  iheKed  ivivtrof  the 
Xorlh.  fouehin;f  the  north  sliore  of  Lake  .Supe- 
rior, cro.-siiii;'  tiie  St.  Lawrence  below  Qui'bec. 
and  iheneeto  ."-"l.  Johns.  ?Ne\vli)und;aiul.  \ow" 
beo-inniiiL!:  in  Murope.  riei^r  (.'hri-tiana.  draw 
your  peiicii  \\\)  towards  the  (iiilf  of  Oiie^'a; 
then  draw  tiirou'4'h  OrenlierLj  to  l-^iachta,  MaI■l'■- 
h  n  and  the-  mouth  of  tlieAnioor.  Vou  can 
now  .<ee  suiiicientiy  near  \ov  our  present  pur- 
pose b'/w  the  isotherm  of  .'!,"!  ^  runs.  'J"ho 
Tiiean  temperature  of  all  places  south  of  (his 
line  is  not  nuire  than  ii;'  -  . 

Li  like  manner  we  .sketeli  oil  ror.^hly  tin' 
annual  isotherm  of  70  "^  throufjli  the  new  world 
and  the  old.  It  , -tarts  Irom  ;-''an  l)ie!':o,  cross- 
iii'^"  the  Colorado  at  its  month,  ami  then  pass- 
ini^'  down  tliroufi^li  Chihuahua  to  Austin,  in 
Te.xas,  it  {roes  by  New  Orleans  and  Pensacola 
to  the  sea.  Strikinj;'  the  African  coast  near 
]\lon;'ador,  it  goes  throui;ii  tlairo,  ispahiin. 
Delhi,  to  Canton.  The  mean  temperature  of 
all  places  to  the  north  of  this  line  is  less  than 
70°. 

Now  let  U3  divide  the  belt  included  between 
these  two  isotherms  into  tsvo  nearly  ctiual  ther- 


I 


3.1 


I'XHotly 

I'd  |ii  ires' 
,'  lit  till' 

iiiir-c  III 

l)i;i  — tlio 

l*ii;;()  ill 

and  Sun 

cs  wliicli 

war   rc- 

I  j)I;i(i' 

iiial  and 
tlir(uiL;li 

.   ixCIMIM' 

riciiliui'iil 
JDiis  is  an 

clniv,  in 
y  vi!i'i(.'ty 
;•  ut  tliciii 

ervntion-. 
il   riliitc.^. 

lis  to  (li- 

i'iii[K'riiti' 
into  two 

Is. 

wo  l.iiuuls 
lies  (liifi.T 
ir>'r— iiii'l. 
\'m'f  sul»- 

itotl  Stairs 
lis  ol" :]')  = 

und  Id  iiti 
icross  I'^-u- 

tlie  fioncil 
ml  tiiciicc! 
\\V  (if  ll.o 
.;il-:o  Sn]ii'- 
w  (>ii'4)C('. 
ml.     \ii\v 

lUUl,     lllilW 

n  Oiu'tr.i ; 
:lU!i,  Mai-L--- 
Voii  Ciiii 
I'o^'iit  yi'ir- 
I'lm,-!.  'riio 
utii  of   (lii--^ 

on;.!,i!iy  till' 

■  IIL'W  \V(  Jl'ili 
logo,  Cl'0^:^- 
tlK-ll     ]):l^^S- 

Austin,  in 
I'cnsacolii 
coast  near 
),  Ispaliuii. 
peratiirc  of 
it;  lo.-is  liian 

ed  between 
C(iuul  ther- 


mal bands,  by  tra(?iiij,'  likewi.H'  wiili  a  Irce 
Imnd  the  isotlieitu  of  52  ®  ,  the  moan  (nvarly) 
bctu'evii  o.")  ^  and  70  "  . 

15.';:iiiiiini(  n  -ar  Capu  Orford  on  thi!  West 
Uoa^t,  tliis  isotherm  piVSPiM  up  toward-;  the 
Dalii.'.s,  tlieii  down  u  little  to  llic  Wv-t  of  Salt 
Lake  lo  ftaiila  l-'o ;  then  up  to  Seult's  IJliiIT, 
and  then  llii'ou;,4i  St.  liOiiis  and  Loaisville  to 
Ijaltiuunv.  Takinji'  it  up  in  K!i;;!;ind  it  pa.-?eri 
throii;j!i  Hi'l^'iuin  toward i  Zurich,  t!i,  n  i,j)  ;u- 
wards  Olinut/.,  and  so  on  through  Vanta,  J);  r- 
benl,  Koiviin  and  I'ehin. 

Tiiis  line  divides  this  belt  Ih.iuially  and  g(0- 
giai)liieally  into  two  l>an(ls  of  nearly  tho  same 
size.  'Tiny  inelnd;;  llie  j.;'ardi'n  ^pot.s  of  t'lc 
earih.  In  them  man  laid  liis  lir.^t  hearthstone, 
and  from  th,.ni  tin;  litjhts  of  eivilizalion  uud 
chriitianiiy  ha\e  hheil  tlicir  llr-t  and  tlaii 
l)ri^htent  rays. 

Lot  us,  for  the  eonvtiiiencc  of  refercnci.',  call 
the  Xotthv'ni  b.md  thi;  upper  band,  and  the 
.Southern  one  tiie  lower. 

^^'^i  ui''  now  prepared  to  cast  th:;  tyc  over 
them,  and  tu  i;'eiieralizo  coneerninj^'  the  com- 
morciul  and  u,!,'ricultura!  a-.|K'et,s  <>f  tho  two 
routes. 

'I'iie  plants  wliieh  '/ivc  phy  iiignoiny  to  tlio 
liekh  un<l  fore.sts  of  these  bands  are,  I'.ir  the 
upp'r  band,  oonifers,  the  willow,  tlu;  b.vcl), 
iat'e'i,  !ir.  alder,  dm,  liiekory.  birch,  eranbcrriis, 
and  pasture  grasses.  For  the  lower  band,  lli-;' 
cliari'eteristicp!aiit.s  are  Ihick-leuvcd  everj.;reciis, 
;Mid  arljoivscent  grasses,  tiio  cypres-s,  cedar,  a;-'li, 
.mi  magnolia,  with  rose,-. 

'riie  chief  commercial  pl.int^-',  b«  sides  tlie 
cereals — which  are  common  to  both — are  for 
tho  l(-\ver  l)aiid,  the  orange,  the  vino,  the  li.r, 
peach,  date,  pomegranalc  citron,  t!u;  melon, 
St.  JohnV-  iJri'ad.  the  sweet  pii'ato,  rice,  indigo, 
tobacco,  hemp,  cotton,  tea,  .=;ugar,  and  naval 
stores.  For  the  upper  band,  buckwheat,  hay, 
Irisli  poratois.  turnips,  ai)pies,  pt.'ar.s  plums, 
he 'ds  and  Hocks. 

?rl(i.it  of  the  railways,  bsuli  in  Furope  and 
America,  are  in  the  upper  baad  ;  so  are  tiie 
great  centers  of  conmerce,  and  the  places  for 
fairs  in  Kuroii"  and  AMa  — a  f-ure  si.;n  that  the 
occupations  of  the  p  'ople  in  \!io  upper  band 
are  not  so  c.\ciusive;y  agricultural  as  tlicse  of 
the  lower.  In  other  words,  we  are  reminded 
by  this  division  that  the  pcopk',  in  Sjjite  oi' 
legislative  enactments,  tarills  aiul  prolrciion, 
have  olieyed  tlie  laws  enacied  by  nature  i»s 
c.\'pres~ed  for  the  u'eograp'iical  di.-iribiition  of 
labor,  and  that  man,  though  the  .same  in  both 
band-,  i'.as  in  eiv.'h  heeded  thosi,' plnsical  condi- 
tions l>v  which  he  linds  himself  sarroiiiidi:d,,ind 
directed  his  hibois  to  tho.se  pursuits  wiiieli 
promise  the  be.st  returns. 

This  cireum^tance  reminds  us  that  railways 
in  tlie  nppM-  iiuiils  .should  be  much  more  apt 
to  liave  lull  freights  both  ways  than  e.re  rail- 
ways in  the  lower  band.  The  latter  cai-ry 
av^ay  tobacco,  lictnp.  cotton,  rice,  sugar,  itc, 
and  may  bring  back  in  a  single  car,  the  nianii- 
facturea  articles  for  which  a  whole  train-load 


of  cotton  Ikis  lidu  t.xchanged.  ifcnco,  nsa 
Mile,  railroads  in  tiiis  l)and  carry  more  than 
lliey  f'tcli.  TIkj  same  raw  and  bulky  articles 
go  into  the  upper  bund  to  bo  manufactured, 
and  wlion  m.innl'actured,  they  are  put  on  the 
rail.;  foi-  distribution,  and  for  market — thus 
inciva-in';  IVcight.-f  for  this  band  both  ways. 

Facli  one  of  these  thermal  b.inds  in  the 
T'nit^d  Si.u.s  wants  its  roads  from  smi  to  scj, 
und  e.icli  inu--t  have  it.  Kaeli  wanted  its  ,«ys- 
teni  of  roads  between  the  Atlantic  Mcean  and 
the  Mis-sissippi  River,  and  each  has  itj,  whether 
Congri>.-;  wo  ild  or  not— and  s  >  it  aVIII  be  be- 
twei  n  ihe  "  (irand  Ojeaii''  .md  th;;  Mi.-si<.sippi. 

I,ook  ut  tli"stei!  cngraV'jd  map  in  Putnam's 
Ivaih'oad  (hvxh  and  you  M'ill  see  how  tlnsj 
system.-!  of  roads  have  been  I'ormed.  Fnlil  la.st 
summer  \'ir!..iiiia  wouk!  s!i(  te!i  no  railway  line 
I'rom  any  of  her  fine  ha;'l)Ors  into  the  valley  of 
the  We?t.  North  Carolina  liad  no  harbors; 
hill, -e,  the  blank-  j^paee on  lli.it  map  lietween 
Ol.io  and  (ieort'ia. 

On  the  tdiier  hatid.  there  was  the  great  chain 
of  hake.-,.  Then  t'lei''.' was  the  Jhdtimore  and 
Ohio,  and  the  Pi'misvivania  Central  Railroads, 
which  wep.'  conini 'iC'd  e.t  a  very  early  day, 
and  pu-hid  lorward  willi  vi;jor.  Now  see  what 
a  m:  v.oik  of  r.  .'d.s  tiie.-e  have  (.'ailed  out, 
reacliing  l>  and  bvyond  t'.e  .Mi,-sissippi,  and 
stretching  dec  l^ist  lo  conn  et  with  thes,;. 

While-  Virginia  Would  lait,  and  .North  Car- 
olina couM  ,i-il.  ,-^out!i  Carolina  and  (Jeorgia 
n'cnt  lo  \vi)rk  with  their  system  of  roads,  which 
has  aln  ady  sirelened  il.>Ji,'!r  toward.^  tlic  setting 
Sim  hir  b  'yol'.d  tee  Missir^ipi'.i. 

Te.Mis  nas  givi. a  a  most  .!i;',.i'niricent  grant  of 
land.-  and  ie.iu  ..-f  nie-ney  to  ],<•;•  ,-'onthern  I'aeilic 
Railway,  wiiih  will  extend  the  Soutliern  sys- 
tem as  iar  as  ]]{  i'.'.s'. ,  wi^lnn  (iO.J  miles  of  the 
Paeilic. 

Ibiads  from  New  tlrhans,  '>';c';sburg,  Mem- 
phis, and  other  points,  are  to  join  the  Te.'?as 
v('S\i\.  }ilemphis  and  I'd  Prr-o  are  in  the  middle 
of  the  iovi'er  ij.uil.  'lene-e,  yoa  I'ljreeive,  thi.s 
b.iiid  has  I;.-:  I'oais  well  und-.'r  way,  and  it  is 
high  time  Cneie  ."-^aiii  s'v  aid  lal^e  hold  and 
extend  il;  "Westward. 

Fnrortimatt.'ly,  this  ri  ad  has  laid  troubles  to 
an  extraordinary  d'.'grei. — but  it's  a  long  night 
tiiat  has  no  day,  and  it  nov,'  begins  u  r  tlie  lirst 
tim,j  to  see  the  liglit  of  real  day.  T'lie  dawn  is 
promising. 

So.  too.  in  .Miime.S':ta  :    St.  Paul  is  in  the 

center  of  I'le  upi.)er  band,  and  there  is  a  railroad 

ah'eaily  nii'ler  way  iV^aa   St.  i'-ed  to  Pembina. 

eading  to  liie  Paeilic 
I, 


ni>iii 


!-•  r-..ul 


A  branch 

will  nio.-t  laii^'y  lenreSLiit  the  .system  in  the 
u;)]  er  l.iand.  .-'t.  P.iul  is  in  the  aiidi.He  of  it, 
and  the  dk-tanee  by  an  a'r-line  Irom  the  W^'est- 
ern  limitsof  Miniiesoia  toPugei's  Sound  is  870 
miles:  making  only  ^s.-y)  loOO  ii.i'es  of  road 
to  be  proviiied  for  by  tlr?  geiicral  government, 
ill  order  to  secure  both  of  these  roads.  Indeed, 
if  the  Southern  road  be  taken  to  the  California 
line,  California  will  take  care  of  it  thence  to 
San  Francisco.    So  that  by  providing  for  the 


iT 


86 


construction  of  some  iM  niilcH,  govcrnnicrit 
can  now  sccuro  one  at  the  South.  Ten  years 
ago,  whon  this  (|ucstion  of  ii  road  to  tiic  racilic 
began  first  to  bo  uj^'itatcd,  {,'ov('rnnn'nt  would 
have  had  to  provido  for  it  all  tlio  way  Ironithc 
Mississipni  to  tlio  Pueilic-so  it  was  iicid— and 
timt  would  have  required  a  sincdo  road  aliout 
'2,000  miles  lonif.  Now.  ffovornnient  aid  alon;,' 
1,.^00  miles  will  pivfi  us  two. 

These  bands  give  a  eompiile  (piiotus  to  uU 
objeetions  to  the  Northern  roads,  on  the  score 
of  climate.  In  other  niirts  of  the  world  roads 
abound  hi  just  such  climates.  'Iho  road  from 
St.  IVtersburj,'  to  Moseow,  and  iIk;  Prussian 
roads,  with  others  in  tlie  same  band-i  in  Ku- 
ropo,  arc  even  in  u  higher  latitude  than  the 
St.  I'aul  road  will  l»o ;  yet  elimato  is  no  objec- 
tion to  them.  Neither' is  it  to  llie  (,'anada 
railways,  nor  to  any  others  as  far  North  as  the 
rails  have  been  laid.  Wo  all  expect  to  see  the 
day  when  llussia  will  be  o.\tcndini,'  her  system 
of  rails  into  Siberia,  and  noncMtf  u.-— for  in  that 
matter  all  of  us  have  nnbinssod  min<ls— antici- 
pate any  diiriculty  on  the  score  of  climate. 

llain  maps  for  th(\so  bands  show  that  the 
avorajfe  aimual  amoinit  of  rain  aloni,'  this  north- 
ern route  and  until  you  pass  the  Kooky  Moun- 
tain range — after  which  the  climate  is  mild, 
like  that  of  l-lngland— is  less  than  it  is  along 
any  railway  in  the  Atlantic  States,  or  in  the 
Mississippi  valley,  or,  indeed,  in  any  part  of  the 


Cape  Horn,  and  until  she  gets  into  the  N.  E. 
trade  winds.  Her  course  is  then  west  until  she 
enters  the  waters  of  the  (!hina  Seas.  She  then 
hauls  up  to  the  northward  and  westward  tor  her 
port.  On  the  return  voyage,  her  course  on 
coming  out  of  her  Asiatic  port,  is  to  the  north- 
ward and  eastward,  until  she  getfl  (airly  witliin 
the  "  brave  west  winds."  With  these  she  steers 
to  the  eastward,  following  the  great  circle  route 
gradually  shaping  her  course  to  the  S.  of  E. 
until  she  rc'-ehes  our  own  shores  again. 

If  she  b(;  houml  to  San  Francisco,  her  route, 

until  she  gains  the  oflings   of  the  Straits  of 

Fuca,  would  be  the  same  us  though  she  w"re 

bound  into  Tuget's  Sound  or  the  Columbia 

river. 

Thus  yuu  perceive  that,  on  the  outward  voy- 

_e,  San   Fr&ncisco  is  on   the  way  side  (rom 

Puget's  Sound  and  Columbia  river  to  China  ; 

'  ■whereas,  Puget's  Sound  and  Astoria  are  on  the 

I  way-side  of  the  route  from  China  and  Japan 

\  to  California. 

'I'o  see  how  one  road  only  would  work,  let  us 
;  suppose  it  at  the  north — running  from  St.  Paul 
I  to  Puget's  Sound.  Let  us  now  follow  a  pack- 
age of  merchandize — say  of  ginseng — that  is 
sent  over  this  road  from  Memphis  to  be  bartered 
I  in  China  for  tea.  The  ginseng  would  first  go 
I  North  up  the  Mississippi  to  get  to  the  road. 
!  Thence  it  would  cross  to  the  Pacific  ;  arriving 
nt  Puget's  Sound,  it  would  then  be  shipped  for 


age 


world.    They  show  that  the  average  amount  of  !  China.     Now  it  must  come  back  to  the  SotUk 


precipitation,  both  snow  and  rain,  in  winter, 
for  that  part  of  the  route  which  lies  between  j 
the  Pacific  range  of  mountains  and  St.  Paul,  is  ' 
less  than  three  inches !  i 

Thus,  I  think,  the  question  of  climate,  of  ] 
terrific  snowstorms  and  impassable  drifts  along 
this  route,  may  be  considered  as  disposed  of. 

We  return  now  to  the  paradox,  that  by  these 
two  roads  to  the  Pacific,  the  markets  ot  Asia 
will  be  much  nearer  to  those  of  the  Mississippi 
valley  than  cither  road  alone  could  bring  them. 
To  explain  this,  it  is  only  necessary  to  remind 
you  how  the  winds  blow  and  the  currents  set 
that  control  the  routes  of  sailing  vessels— the 
burden  cars  of  the  sea — between  the  eastern 
shores  of  Asia  and  our  west  coast. 

The  route  to  Asia  lies  through  the  N.  E. 
trade  winds.    These  winds  blow  between  the 
parallel  of  30  deg.  N.  and  the  Eqivator  ;  and 
vessels  that  take  this  route  usually  run  across 
the  broad  Pacific  between  the  parallel  of  18 
deg.  and  25  deg.   N.  where  the  trades  are 
strongest.    Returning,  they  take  the  great  cir- 
cle route — the  shortest  distance — and  keep  well 
up  to  the  North ;  for  now  the  "  brave  west 
winds"  of  those  extra-tropical  regions  which 
would  have  been  adverse  for  the  outward  voy- 
age, are  fresh  and  fair  for  the  homeward  run. 
So  you  perceive  that  a  vessel  trading  under 
canvass  between  our  Pacific  States  and  China 
describes  on  every  round  voyage,  an  ellipse; 
coming  out  of  the  straits  of  Fuca  or  the  Col- 
umbia river  for  instance,  her  course  is  first  to 
tbe  Boathward,  ati  thoagb  she  were  bound  roaod 


af/ain  to  get  into  the  trade-ivind  region.  Thus 
you  observe  it  would  have  lo  go  more  than  a 
thousand  miles  up  the  Mississippi  out  of  the 
way  ;  and  when  it  reaches  the  Pacific,  it  would 
have  to  return  again  as  far  to  the  South.  Being 
exchanged  for  tea  in  China,  it  would  be  near- 
est for  the  tea  to  stop  at  Puget's  Sound,  take 
the  Railroad  and  come  South  on  the  Mississippi, 
instead  of  coming  South  by  sea  along  the  Pa- 
cific coast. 

Now  let  us,  in  imagination,  place  the  road  at 
the  South  instead  of  at  the  North,  and  take  a 
bale  of  furs  to  illustrate  the  route  of  trade  and 
travel.  The  fur,  we  will  suppose,  is  sent  from 
St.  Paul,  It  comes  down  the  Mississippi  to 
get  to  the  road.  That  would  not  be  out  of  the 
way  for  the  fur,  for  it  is  bound  South  for  the 
No;tl;east  trade  winds  at  any  rate;  and  it 
■wov.ld  be,  in  a  national  point  of  view,  perhaps 
more  desirable  to  have  it  go  South  by  the  Mis- 
sis; ippi,  than  by  sea  in  the  Pacific.  But  when 
the  silk  for  which  it  has  been  exchanged  in 
China,  on  St.  Paul  account,  arrives,  on  its  re- 
turn off  the  entrance  of  the  Straights  of  Fuca, 
it  has  to  turn  out  of  its  way.  Instead  of  find- 
ing railway  transportation  to  take  it  through 
from  Puget's  Sound  across  to  Minnesota,  it 
has  to  run  away  to  the  South.  Perhaps  a  week 
after  it  might  have  been  in  St.  Paul  by  a 
Northern  road,  it  arrives  by  sea  in  California, 
and  is  carried  by  rails  to  Memphis.  Now  it 
has  to  doulle  upon  itself  to  go  North,  and  re- 
cross  every  parallel  of  latitude  that  it  crossed  af- 
ter turning  out  of  its  way  from  Juan  de  Fuca. 


i 


he  N.  E. 
:  until  sho 
She  then 
rd  torhor 
course  on 
the  north- 
rly  within 
'shcstcora 
irclo  route 
I  S.  ofE. 
n. 

her  route, 

Straits  of 

she  w"re 

Columbia 

ward  voy- 
side  Irom 
to  China ; 
are  on  the 
iind  Japan 

iforii,  let  us 
n  St.  Paul 
.)W  a  pack- 
g — that  is 
)C  bartered 
uld  first  go 
o  the  road. 
; ;  arriving 
shipped  for 

0  the  SoiUk 
imi.  Thus 
lore  than  a 
out  of  the 
ie,  it  would 
nth.  Being 
lid  be  near- 
3ound, take 
Mississippi. 
)ng  the  Pa- 

the  road  at 
and  take  a 
f  trade  and 
is  sent  from 
ississippi  to 
e  out  of  the 
3uth  for  the 
ate;  and  it 
w,  perhaps 
by  the  Mis- 
But  when 
changed  in 
J8,  on  its  re- 
its  of  Fuca, 
;ead  of  find- 
!  it  through 
innesota,  it 
haps  a  week 
Paul  by  a 

1  California, 
is.  Now  it 
irth,  and  re- 
it  crossed  af- 
nde  Fuca. 


37 


This  doubling  will  require  two  or  three  wceka 
of  tiinu,  besides  risk  and  expense. 

Willi  two  vo&th  thfro  will  be  no  dnuhlmg, 
hence  two  roads  ill  brin;^  ("iiina  and  .Fapan 
and  IluHsia  very  1  ich  nearer  to  the  .Vlis.sissiippi 
valley  than  one  can  do.  The  distance  saved 
will  b'j,  in  furioii^^H,  nearly  twice  the  kni'^th  of 
the  Mississippi  river,  and  in  time  some  two  or 
throe  weeks. 

Whether  the  governinont  therefore  aids  in 
the  buildinijf  of  these  ron<ls  or  not,  these  circum- 
stances will  of  themselves  call  for  the  construc- 
tion of  at  least  two  roads  to  the  PaciQc~one  at 
the  North,  the  other  at  the  South.  Northern 
capital  and  Southern  capital  will  assist  in  both. 

I  have  thus  endeavored  to  make  dear  tho 
parad().x  with   which   I  set  out,  and  I  hope  I 


have  succeeded  in  showing  to  your  satisfaction 
that  at  least  two  railways— one  at  tho  North 
the  other  at  the  South— are  required  to  the 
Pucilic. 

Thsre  are  no  toll-houses  on  the  lakes,  and 
none  on  the  iiixW  of  Mexico.  The  commercial 
voices  of  these  two  waters,  could  it  be  heard, 
would  b(!  raisid,  eachtrumpet-tongued,  in  favor 
of  tln's,'  two  routes. 

The  nearest  way  from  Brazil  and  tho  Ama- 
zon, as  well  as  from  the  West  Indies  to  China, 
would  then  lie  by  the  South  Pacific  Railway. 
*         *        ^-        *        *        *        « 

Yours  truly, 

M.  F.  MAURY. 
D.  A.  RoiiKRTSON,  St,  Paul,  Minnesota. 


■it 


AP1»EN1)IX    "G." 


Blil!ri;>il     COLUMBIA. 


From  the  VDnesj^itiden-e  (>/'  tiic  L'jA'hhi   Ihdis. 


VlCTOIUA,  YwcorVER's  1;^T,.VND.  )  \ 

!>fsiiiiH'r  1).  18.")9.      \ 
All  recent  n'-'couiit.i  irnfii   15riti>h  ('niniiibiii  ' 
have  bcpii  oF  a  mor^t  su.i^lici'M'y  mh!   •.•ncoiu'-  , 
agin;;  cliaractcr.  -  j 

"^1^8  wealth,  and  tlio  va?l  extent  of  its  anri-  | 
ferous  iiroa.  are  now  e■;^ali!i^lK'^l  by  muleniable  ! 
I'videuv.''.' :  th^'  -'a'i-fi'Mi.iii  "I'  tlio  niin.'is  witli 
.their  ^iicee-.-.  ■•wxA  ih.'a.i'i'ivai  h;'i'i'ur  la''iri' <(uan- 
tities  (li  i:o'w\  C\\\A,  the  iii.->('<>vorio.s  o!'  now  | 
'•  plawr.^."  mill  Ihc  i'Xion.'i^vi  (if  oM  di'.;'5;iii,<rH!  in  j 
wliich  <.';')M  i-^  foi::id  tlM>;)'.-i"  and  I'lirUjei"  inland  i 
i'roni  tii;^  riv'is  tii,\n  v.':«.-;  at  fii'-t  i-xpcctcd,  all  ; 
','0  to  I'stabli?!)  th'.v.;  t'.vo  iniporLant  la'.'t^'.  : 

I 
.VKW  (;oLi)  i)i,,r[;-:r>.  , 

iiic'li  diii'ijin;.'.-!  iiave   \n'\-\\  iii.-covi'ivd    !•)  tho  . 
Siniill-Min'.rn   vaiiey.  u  siim-i:  di-lancv  noitli  of  ; 
tiie  4l)lh  iiaralli'l,  within  tlic  tcn-itiiry  o^iJ^itil^h  \ 
Ciihinih'.a.  The  vaiicy i>r  tiif  SiiaiikanKrn  (pro-  j 
noaiici'd  '•  S.KHMniliojonKvn.")  wliieh  \a  walcrod  ' 
by  a    river    Ix'ariu'i'  ti'.e  .-.'Jiu:  uanic.  i.-i   e.Meii-  , 
sive,  fertile  abninds  in  ri'-ii  pasture,  and  is  well 
adapted  fir  s.'(i!i'iii"iit.     Tiie  climate  is  U'oninl 
;ind    there    are  many    e.\i"ii>ive  ti'acts    in   tiie 
Siinil'cam/en   eoimtry  e?:peeiuliy  lavor.ible    lor 
stock  rai.^inir.  ii-=  in  winter  the  snow  never  lies. 
however   d'ep  ii,  miv  be   In   t!ie  nion^nainons 
country  aro-nid.     'iiio   i'iVer  i.<  a   irioniaryof 
til.  Ukina'r.'.n.   wliieii  laiis  into  i,k!  (.'v-lumbia 
near   4S  -   noriii    latiiad'.     'iiiis  ne's'    iiiiuinij 
country  is  accessible  rroni  Kort  llopcun  Fruzer 
river,   and    from    i'.e    ^I'inhborin'.'-    An-.i'rican 
country,    (W'as'ain'rton  '!'<  rritory.)  tiie    n.iiaoi- 
tants  (I*    wliicii  !;avc  avaiieil  tneniselves  oi    tiiu 
f'acili';    v^  mine  liierc  durinyr  last  uiitiiinn  with 
sneoe-s.  which  nrode'-d  the  usual  "  (.'xeilenient.'" 


zer  river  up  to  the  vicinity ''it 'le  liocicy  Moun- 
tain';, inclndintr  Xew  Caledoeia,  are  now  ascer- 
tained to  l»e  uuriien)us  ;  mm,  wiiat  is  e(]ualle 
important,  extensive  tracts  of  ommhI  land  adapteil 
I'^r  a'rrieiiltinv  hiive  bi^en  at  ilii'sanie  tiniedi:- 
covered. 

(jri:K.\    ('"iAKMri'TK's    I.  :,VXO. 

The  problem  whet'nerllie  c'old  aria  cvtendetl 
as  i'ar  north  us  die  iiortiiern  ii'>inidary  <i^  Hril- 
ish  Coiumbia  t-.^  the  liessiaii  line  his  ;iI,-:o  beui 
solved.  C'aptain  Torrens,  late  of  !i(  r  Majestvs 
fji^tii  lic'pinient — a  ,i,\'i;tlem,ui  who  combines  a 
life  of  adventure  wit!;  a  iii;;:i  s[i;'-it  ol  enter- 
prise~-or!j:unized  an  e.xpediiiuii.  ioi'lndinij:  scieti- 
tilic  men,  some  months  b;icic,  to  e.vpi..'!-.'  (^;ieen 
Charlotte's  I, land  and  th-.;  north  west  coast  el" 
Hi'itish  Coiunibiii.  They  fir-t  wmI'  fur  J'ort 
oimpson,  tiie  Hudson's  ..vay  Company's  iiorili- 
ernmost   establisliinent   .in' the  i'.ic  lie,  ^iluate 


'-.tr   liie   Ilns.-ian 


■III 
in  latitude  ;")!  Cw^- 
Ijounu.U'y. 

From  Fct  Simpson  they  ci'e;^sed  to'tjueen 
Charlotte's  Island  ^a  dejr.Mideney  of  t!ie  colony 
of  IJritish  Co!umbia.)]Lind  landed  on  i'diot  I'lise. 
an  i 'llnnus  w!iic!i  i'orwn.  "'i'^  norlh-easiern  e.\- 
ti' 'initv  of  the    island.     '  'aiitaiu    'I'orrens  has 


Joiil  ha-!  also  b'.'  'u  diseoverrd  i  -'d  v/ork'  d  to  a 
consid'THOle  extent  on  (^uesnelj's  river  and  Ijuke 
some  2:'.()  miles  to  the  norlli  of  the  last  men 
tioned  locality.  In  short,  the  whole  of  the  in- 
terior jiortions  of  the  country,  irom  a  ])0:nt 
about  45  miles  from  (above)  tliu  mouth  of  J^'ra 


kindly  i'jrnisheil  me  will'  notes  ;"<)m  liisjouu.al 
and  from  them  I  will  e.;traet  a  sneeiiict  ae 
(vjaiit  of  liis  wnnderinu's.  From  I'oint  ]?,,i,se 
the  party  eoa-ted  se-uvhward.  ••  pros[)ee[;n'>"  a.* 
they  went  alon^'.  j'lie  '•  color,''  as  the /nin/r 
calls  a  successful  trial  for  ,<i;old,  was  foimd  al- 
nii:  1  everywhere  on  the  coast  in  the  concrete, 
and  in  the  dittereiit  slrata  of  gravel  in  the  cliffs  ; 
but  the  best  "  prospects"  W(3re  derived  from  tli'' 
black  sand  on  the  beach  from  Point  Rese  to 
.Sl.ilen^ate,  r  distanoeof  some  sixty  odil  miles  on 
liio  south  coa-t.  Ca|.ti.Ii\  Torrens  thinks  the 
disc  )Very  of  i^iiid  in  blaek  saml  (iron  pvrites.'i 
Oil  tlie  sea  co.ist  i  reiiiai'kal)i(i  faet  iiold  in 
t'0nsiderai)le(iiui..  itiesis  Ibuiivl  similarly  situate 
on  the  north   ooast  of  Car.fornia.   at   a  plac ' 


ky  Momi- 
o\v  asccr- 
is  (.'quiilly 

(1  i»UU])tl'll 

;;  tiiuo  di;- 


1  extori'icd 
y  ■>(■  P.rit- 

Maji'sty's 
li'.i'oiiii'.s  ;i 

Oi     v'lltCl'- 

li;):^  scii".i- 

lur  Fori 

lio.  '-iUuite 
Rns.-ifin 

I  to  (Jiiocn 
!i!'  colony 
(lint  Uo>i'. 
asUrii  (>\- 
orrciis  Ims 
lii.-;  join  Kill 

'oint  Rn.so 
jt't'ii'.i';"  ;i.< 

s  Ibiind  a1- 
e  coiicn'to. 
n  tlic  cliffs  ; 
■d  from  tlif' 
lit  Riise  to 
Id  mill's  0'.\ 
t'.dnks  th- 
.)ii  iiy rites,) 
iiohl  ill 
ir!y  situiitc 
lit   II  plac.' 


{ 


39 

called  GoW  tilufT,  where  miners  hiivi;  been  iit  i 
work  extracting,'  it  from  the  "  blade  t^iiiid,"  by 
machinery  atid  the  ns.>  of  quicksilver,  for  Ihc 
last  nine  year.;.  At  Skidei,rat(;  vilhu^v  the  In- 
dians lielmvod  in  .so  Iin-iti'ea  manner  tliat  the 
party  went  back  in  tlieir  canoes  to  Fort  Himi)- 
son.  Smitten  I)y  qualms  of  conscience  at  tlieir 
inliospita'.ity.  or,  more  probably,  having' a  dread 


o!   vjovernor 


DOUL 


ass    ven;i,'t?ance,  as  lie  nad 


sent  a  message  beseechiiiir  kind  treatment  for 
tii(>  party,  tlu;  Indians,  to  make  amends,  sen!  a 
deputiilion  to  Fort  Simjison  to  invite  Ca})lain 
Torrins  to  repe.it  his  visit  under  a  pnnnise  of 
safe  conduct  from  tlie  chiefs  of  the  ••  i  laidalis," 
the  most  powerful  triiie  on  the  island.  Tiius 
epeouraged,  the  ('aptain  a"d  his  men  started 
a;;ain.  En  route  tliey  visited  I'itt  l>land  wiiieli 
lies  on  the  easlsid'"'of  Queen  C'larloUe's  Island. 
betW'.vn  it  and  th.e,  mainland.  Here  tliey  f'iur.d 
speeiinen^  of  L,'''jld-bearinn'  quartz.  Tliey  then 
made  Ibr  (ioM  liiubor.  on  tlie  east  side  of 
C^ueen  Charlotte's  L^Umd,  wiiere  a  considerable 
quantity  of  scold  (luartz  was  blasted  in  1852. 
under  the  auspices  of  the  IJudson's  IJay  Com- 
])any.  ami  sent  to  Londcm — a  fact  wiiich  added 
iK  t'le  e.xhibition  of  fi'oiden  nuixixets  by  the  Tn- 
(iians  freijuentinu'  \'ietoria.had  raiscvl  liigli  hopes 
among  the  moie  •peeulative  of  our  townsmen 
tliat  great  wealth  lay  hero. 

Captain  ToiTens';was  disappointed  if  he  cn- 
ti  rtain.'d  a!iy  such  'hopes.  He  found  thi  gold 
'•  leads"  worked  out.  At  least,  he  and  his  party 
thouglit,  and  t'cy  l  ft  agui-  1(M'  the  mainlum' 
On  their  way  I'lek  they  visited  an  island  'i.*) 
miles  to  the  north  of  the  Queen  Charlolt.; 
groupe,  whicli  tliey  found  to  be  very  rich  i;i 
copper  ote.  They  visited  also  Kiigaiini  anl 
Tonga-s  islands,  a'lit fie  beyond  tlie  parallel  of 
the  Jiritish  pos-w^sioiis,  and  Chatsina,  on  the 
main  Ui',,Miin  'i'erritoiy  'I'h'se  localities  they 
found  to  contain  Irad,  bismuth,  plumbago,  and 


(jiiartz  rich  in   s.-Ipliurets,  ivhieli  analyze  irom 
ii\?,'y  to  .■$200  per  ton,  !•;  great  abundance-. 

Captain 'i'orrens  de;rrib(S  t.Iie  character  of 
the  north-we.'^t  coast  of  Ih'ili-;!!  C  >luml)ri  as 
"  hi'^hiy  mountain. lus,  oi;e  lung  continued  I'nrm- 
ation  o'l  siate  i!itersper.-,ed  with  tri-nuent  veins 
of  crystalized  quart::." 


lowi)  to  the  peueral  operations  of  a  mining 
caKip,  remaining  only  a  day  hero  and  a  day 
there,  as  circumstances  permitted.  ']'he  river 
lieing  hill,  the  'bars'  were  but  little  i'.\j;osc(l. 
(iood  diggings  were,  however,  discovered,  anil 
the  whole  parly  vere  saimuine  that  a  new  gold- 
field  will  be  o[)ened  up  iu  this  remote  yiart  of 
the  world  next  spring,  when  Captain  Torrens 
rciiirns  to  his  e.xj)loratiun  of  the  Xaas  river 
anil  surrounding  country. 

T'm  iiavigutiiiiHif  liic  river  was  accompli.^hed 
in  canoes.  It  is  not  adajit.d  fer  steamers,  h'- 
ing  too  rapid.  The  scenery  is  very  bold  and 
]ilctures'|ue.  The  weather  in  autumn  was  beau- 
lilul.  Of  the  soil  the  Captai.n  says  :— •' Mag- 
niiicent  I'laleiiu;  of  hind  are  now  to  be  found 
where  (au'i;  iio'ved  torrents  oi'  v.-a'er ;  open 
land.-  oeciii' also  at  intervals,  tlie  vczitation  upon 
which  is  luxuriant."  I;i  e-iMltio!!  to  t!ie  dis- 
covery oi  gold  and  if  good  huid  on  the  Naas 
river.  Captain  'I'orrii;?  v.-.i.-.  ini'ornied  that  the 
Indian  fr.iils  were  so  good  i,,^  to  be  •'  available 
for  pack  tr'-ins  wiMi  but  little  trouble" — a  fact 
wliich  is  '.'f  till!  lir.-:!.  iiiiportanee  to  faeilitate  the 
transit  oj'goeds  by  a  shori  route  from  the  coast 
into  Xew  Caledonia,  wher.*  gold  is  now  boirg 
work"d,  widen  is  known  to  be  highly  aurifer- 
ous ;  and  where,  from  th."  amenity  of  the 
climate  m  w'ntcr,  and  tiie  abundance  of  pasture 
I  a  large  ir.inirig  pojiuiaiioii  would  seitle  were  it 
[  not  for  the  dilacuity  a, id  irrcat  ex ped-cnt  transit 
!  by  way  of  Fra.ser  liver. 
I.  :  Captain  Torrens  is  huai  it;  Ids  jiraises  of  the 
humanity,  kindness,  and  liberaiity  of  the  Hud- 
son's I'ay  (jonipany.  Irv'sn  whom  he  and  his 
■party  reeeivod  ieiportant  assi.-tance. 

,\xo:'iir:ii  icxi'i.oiacu. 

Another  explorer  u..^  jus!  reiurned  from  the 

same  part  of  tlie  world,  wn.'.e report  has  added 

to  cur  meagre  information   of  the  topography 

>r  tiie  nortli.uii  and  wosti  rn  portions  ot  the  new 


Tin:  M Ai.Nr,..\Nu. 

The  Cajitairi  liaving  determined  to  ex.imitr:- 
tlie  interior  of  the  mainland  ol  IJrili.-h  (,'olinii- 
biu  in  this  riorthern  portion  of  it.  he  ascendci 
the  Xaas  :  ivi-r,  wliieli  empties  into  the  I'.ieilic 
about  40  a-.ik'S  north  of  I'ort  SimiiMni.  ^'otli- 
ing  remarkable  .struck  his  notice  until  he  and 
his  men  had  got  up  t'lC  river  for  forty  miles. 
Here  they  observed  tvideaces  of  volcanic  ac- 
tion ut  some  remote  period  in  tiie  iiiscoloied 
and  blistered  appearance  of  tlic  rocks  ;  and 
here  they  commenced  "  prospeeting,"_  which 
they  conlinucd  lor  a  distance  of  1(10  mil>.?,  be- 
ing the  extremedistancethey  ju'oceeded  to,  and 
througlioiit  which  they  found  the  bars  in  the 
river  to  be  anril'crous.*  The  trip  being  essen- 
tially a  "  j)rospccting  trip."  tbey  did  not  settle 


colony,  and  to   which    flie   (Governor  attaches 
einsider.ible  iinpoi^a.iic. . 

Mr.  O'lwn'.e,  an  old  ('aiifornia  ],ioneer.where, 

ailiior,;;!i  a  .Scotclimaii  and  of  couuiC  a  foreigner. 

he  was  iibi'rally  p,r:n;io)ed  lot'ne  brevet  rank  of 

"  Major.'' stalled  al.-)    Irom  Foit  yimp-son.  in 

August,  0,1  a  tour  ot  ix^- oration  into  ihe  iiite- 

I'ior  by  tia'  Skeeiia  river,  w'.iieii  falls  into  a  bay 

or  iiiltdt  I'ort  Fi.-.'iiigioi;,  about  "lO  mile.>  tiortii 

of  .Siinp-oii.     What  with  har.hhips,  starvation. 

1      aimoyauc.  s  v.r   iiidiai).,  and   iirnoianee   of   the 

'.  route,  and  of  liie  ian^ua'^es  o|'  liu;  .luvag.s,  the 

,   .Majors  trip  wa^  an  cvm'.lul  and  rcu.iantle  one. 

;  ami  he  has  mule  a  tremendous  >tory  of  it  him- 

i  self  ill  the  .-nape  ol   ii  report  Lo  the  Guvernor  ; 

I  l)ut  1  naist  limit   my.\ii   I.)  •■    :hort   ab.-tracf, 

!   which  w"'  vmiu'ae.r  the  uiaai  points. 


The  bay  at  Port  ivsi.igion  r'r.is  inland,  an.^ 
is  dei.p  and  navigablj  for  ihiiiy  mik\s.  The 
rock.'^  are  gi.'antie,  no  quai'iz  appearing.  "Tlie 
blanks,  of  the  Ski  en.i  are  low,  wil  ■inal!  luird- 
wo<jd  and  cotton  tivCii  (popl.tr.)  una  sonie  good 
pi:':e(l  white  eaks,  the  tinest  [  have  seen  v.'cst  of 
I'hvser  rivi  r,  on  its  margin.    Vessels  drawing 


40 


fouv  feet  can  ascend  the  river  for  twenty  tniles, 
but  no  further ;"  the  rest  oi  the  navigation  must 
be  accomplished  by  canoes.  Near  the  em- 
bouchure of  the  Skcena  the  poor  Major  first 
came  to  grief.  Some  "  honest"  Indians  stole 
his  cout,  but  he  was  soon  consoled  for  the  loss 
by  finding  "  some  chiystalized  quartz  with  gold 
in  it,  with  an  Indian  on  the  .Scenetoys  river,"  a 
tributary  of  the  Skena,which  Ic'  him  to  conclude 
"  that  good  paying  quartz  will  be  found  here." 
Paddling  along  for  about  100  miles,  the  work 
of  many  days,  no  doubt,  but  of  which  the  Major 
gives  no  account,  he  "  got  fairly  over  the  coast 
range  of  mountains,"  through  which  the  Skeeua 
flows.  Once  over  the  range  he  found  "  gold,  a 
few  specks  to  the  pan  ;  and  the  whole  country 
looks  like  a  gold  country,  with  fine  bars  and 
flats,  and  clay  on  the  bars."  l?ars  and  flats  and 
clay  on  them  are  considered  gold  locations. 
"  The  mountains  look  red,  and  slate  and  quartz 
can  be  seen."  A  slate  formation  indicates  the 
neighborhood  of  gold.  The  Major  is  skillful  in 
judging  by  "  symptoms,,'  for  he  discovered  no 
end  of  gold  diggings  and  quartz  leads  in  Cali- 
fornia. Aftjr  some  days  journey  beyond  the 
coast  range,  keeping  a  north-easterly  direction 
the  Major  got  intelligence  of  what  he  calls  the 
"  Plumbago  Mountain  ;"  of  this  mineral  he  got 
a  specimen.  "  From  here  to  the  village  of 
Kitcoonsa  the  land  improves,  the  mountains  re- 
cede from  the  river,  and  fine  flats  run  away 
four  or  five  miles  back  to  the  "  mountain  sides," 
The  milder  natural  scenery  would  seem  to  have 
improved  the  manners  and  tempered  the  dispo- 
sitiors  of  the  Indians  inhabiting  the  valley  of 
Kitkooi.  _.  They  were  very  kind  to  the  Major 
and  wished  him  to  live  with  them. 

THE  CASCADE   COUNTKY. 

In  a  district  which  I  take  to  lie  between  two 
ranges  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  about  200 
miles  northward  and  eivstward  of  Fort  Simpson, 
he  found  "  the  prospects"  of  gold  to  vary  much 
but  on  the  .vhole  concludes  that  it  is  the  best 
hokiug  mineral  f^ountry  he  had  seen  in  British 
Columbia.  0  crossing  the  second  range  of  the 
Cascade  Mountains,  the  Major  "  enters  a.,  ex- 
'onsive  coal  country,  the  seams  varying  in  thick- 
ness from  3  to  35  feet  " — a  fact  which  he  was 
able  to  ascertain  from  the  river  having  cut 
through  them.  He  traced  the  veins  for  a  mile 
in  length.  It  took  him  twenty  days  from  Foit 
Simpson  to  this  coal  district,  but  by  goud  travel- 
ling arrangements,  it  could  be  done  in  a  week. 
I  must  now  take  a  tremendous  jump  with  the 
Major  to  Babine  Luke,  near  the  northern  bound- 
ary of  British  Columbia.  Tliis  lake  h  deep  and 
broad,  and  100  miles  long— facts  which  are 
corroborated  by  sonie  of  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Hud-"On  "=.  Bay  Company,  and  who  add  that  the 
Great  Eastern  could  float  upon  it.  The  Major 
reports  that  this  lake  is  the  source  of  Skeena 
river,  and  ho  corrects  the  mistaken  and  long- 
received  opinion  that  it  is  the  source  of  Simp- 
son's River,  as  laid  dowa  in  the  maps.  To 
comprefB  the  Major's  most  original,  but  con- 


fused descriptions,  I  would  say  that  for  about 
100  miles  to  the  south waid  and   westward  of 
and  up  to  Babine  Lake,  the  country  is  well 
adapted  to  settlement.    "  The  land  is  first-rate 
and  wild  hay   and  long  grass  abound.    Xo 
heavy  pine  timber,  but  plenty  of  cotton-wood, 
of  which  the  canoes  are  made  ;"  abundance  of 
salmon  and  wild  berries,  and  the  weulher  in 
September  pleasant.    The  winters,  however, 
must  be  very  severe.    From  Nass-Glee  to  Fort 
Kilmaurs — a  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  station 
on  Babine  Lake — the  distance  is  about   50 
miles,  and  "  the  land  if'  good  the  whole  way." 
The  Major  was  enchanted  with  this  part  of  the 
country.    He   calls  Kilmaurs   a  lovely  place, 
and  moralizes  a  bit  in  the  following  strain  : — 
"  It  seems  a  great  pity   to  see  this   beautiful 
land,  so  well  adapted  to  the  wants  of  man,  lying 
waste,  when  so  many  Englishmen   and  Scots- 
men, would  be  glad  to  come  here  and  till  the 
soil."    If  gold  is  found  to  abound,  one  would 
thmk  the  country  could  be  more  roiulily  peo- 
pled by  Canadians  than   b;^  Scots  or  English. 
From  Babine  Lake  the  Major  made  a  portage 
of  ten  miles  to  Stuart's   Lake,  "  over  a  good 
trail,"  made  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company. 
Arrived  at  Stuart's  Lake  the  Major  and  his 
party  were  put  to  great  shifts,  being  without 
food,  without  ammunition  to  ehoot  ducks  wit'i, 
and  without  a  canoe  to  cross  the  lake  in.  '  W  u 
camped  here  throe  nights  without  food,  sleep- 
ing the  greater  part  of  our  time  to  stifle  our 
hunger ;"  their  only  consolation   being  "  the 
grand  idea  of  their  enterprise  in  exploring  a 
new  route  from  the  Pacific,  which  will  one  day 
connect  the  ocean  with   the  Atlantic."    With 
the  aid  of  Indians  who  treated  them  with  the 
greatest  kindni  vS,  they   made   the   pa.ssuge  of 
Stuart  a  Lake  on  a  raft  of  logs,  and  at  length 
made  Fort  St.  James,  another  Company's  es- 
tablishment at  the  south-east  end  of  Stuart's 
Lake,  in  the  district  of  New  Caledonia.    True 
to  his  instinct  and  to  his  mission,  the  indefatiga- 
ble Major,  having  been  driven  on  a  lee  shore  on 
Stuart's  Lake,   at  a  point  some   fifteen  miles 
from   the    north  end  of  the  lake,    tried    his 
hand  at  "  washing,"  and  "  obtained   a  small 
prospect  of  gold."    "  On  the  north  side  of  the 
lake  the  ground  is  rocky,  but  south  of  the  lake 
the  land  is  as  good  as  can  be,  and  will  produce 
anything." 

For  one  who  has  only  seen  the  country  bor- 
dering on  the  coast  of  British  Columbia,  and 
that  through  which  Frazer  river  runs,  which  is 
mountainous,  broken  and  rugged  to  a  degree, 
it  is  diflieult  to  imagineso  level  and  so  product- 
ive a  country  as  the  interior  is  throughout  the 
greater  portion  of  its  extent.  The  Cascade 
Mountains  are  passed,  and  the  soil  and  climate 
change  for  the  better,  while  the  scenery  be- 
comes softer  and  more  subdued. 

I  must  wind  up  the  Major's  story,  which  I 
have  already  made  longer  than  I  intended. 
After  paying  a  tribute  of  praise  to  «hc  assent  in 
charge  of  Fort  St.  James,  who  received  them 
"  with  that  kindness  and  hospitality  '  hd^Q  al- 


;, 


f 


41 


.  which  I 

intended. 

3  ajyent  in 

ived  them 

ha'^e  al- 


t 


ways  found  r.t  .no  Company's  po;-(«,"  ho  winds 
lip  his  narriitivo  witli  asiiorttal)I','ot  distancos  : 
— "  Stiiai-fs  Lalvc  is  50  miles  lansf ;  I'abiiic 
Lake  100  miles  lour,'  to  Nass  (jiloo,  coursi;  about 
S.  E.  and  N.  \V. ;  from  Na?s {Jlce  to  lort 
Simpson,  'J.'iO  iniks."  From  Fort  St.  James 
tlio  Major  ran  di  "'i  a  feeder  of  Frazcr's  river, 
called  Stuart's  river,  some  50  miles  to  Fort 
George.  Here  he  took  the  main  stream  of 
Frazer's  river,  down  to  Fort  Alexander,  on  the 
southern  confines  of  New  Caledonia,  where  he 
found  a  community  of  miners  in  constant  and 
regular  communication  with  the  lower  country, 
and  whence  he  had  no  dilficulty  in  getting  to 
Victoria  by  the  ordinary  route  of  travel. 

NKW    ROUTE    TO   TIIR   MIl-KS. 

Imperfect  as  the  poor  M.ijor's  exploration 
has  been,  it  establishes  the  fact  that  gold  oxi.sts 
from  tlic  ooast  tc  near  the  northern  and  eastern 
boundary  of  the  colony,  well  nigh  tothoRocVy 
Mountains,  Vx  portions  of  the  country  never  be- 
fore "prospected  ;"  but  far  more  important  is 
the  fact  which  he  assorts,  that  easy  means  of 
transport  of  meicl.andizc  exist  by  the  route  he 
travelled,  which  will  be  much  shorter  from  Port 
Kssington  to  New  Caledonia  than  the  present 
route  by  Frazer's  river  ;  while  the  difficulties 
are  far  less,  and  the  carriage  will  be  much 
cheaper,  even  adding  the  freight  coai^twise  from 
Victoria  to  Port  Essington. 

I  confess  1  feel  rather  aston'shrd,  if  the  Afajor 
is  correct,  that  the;-e  inde'latigable  "  patlilind- 
ers,"  the  llud-on's  Bay  Company's  officers,  did 
not  discover  this  northern  and  easier  route,  for 
they  took  great  paiii'-:  to  find  a  better  one  than 
the  old  route  by  Frazer's  river,  ttc,  which  is 
so  bad  that  frequently  u^  and  GO  horses  perish 
from  fatigue  and  hunger  on  the  journey.  It  is 
true  that  till  lately  the  Fort  Simpson  Indians 
were  very  llerce  and  intractable,  and  it  might 
have  been  imprudent  to  transport  much  pro- 
perty through  their  neighborhood. 

PRODUCTIVEXKSS  OF  THE  MINES. 

•  r,  is  impoRsiblo  to  give  an  estimate  of  the 
]  ft  '.uction  of  gold  in  British  Uolumbia.     All 
6 


ac?oiif.ts  agree  that  the  individual  earnings  of 
the  miners  are  much  larger  than  in  California 
or  Australia.  It  is  very  common  to  light  upon 
a  man  going  to  San  Francisco  with  .several 
thousand  dollars,  upon  others  with  one  thou- 
sand c:ii  h,  and  upon  many  with  some  hundreds  ; 
but  besides  these  exeeiitional  cases  which  come 
to  light  it  is  all  gues.s  work. 

'i'lie  amoinit  '•  manifested''  as  exported  in  the 
last  three  mon'hs  wa«  .S-151,8(i(),  which  is  a 
good  amount  for  so  small  a  number  of  miners 
as  have  been  at  work  within  that  period  ;  but  I 
should  think  an  amount  equal  to  the  sum  just 
stated  must  have  been  taken  by  private  hands. 
Assuming  for  exami)le,  that  1,000  miners  have 
left  the  mires  with  .'-.")00  a  piece,  a  low  estimate, 
this  would  make  .iisjOO.OOO  taken  away  in  the 
Ia.st  (juarler,  besides  tne  $^51,8(10  manifested. 
I  donl)t,  besides,  that  the  amounts  shipped  on 
frei'jrht  are  all  given. 

The  export  of  gold  is  not  the  only  test  of  the 
productiveness  of  the  mines.    To  tbs  success  of 
the  mininir  interest  I  attribute  the  growing  pros- 
perity  of  Victoria — the  building  of    hou.ses, 
stores,  and  shops  by  the  merchants,  traders  and 
shopkeepers,  and  by  otiier  inhabitants.      To 
the  s;ime  cause  I  attribute  the  demand  for  im- 
provonjciits  in  real  property  which  has  lately 
taken  place.     Much  of  the  gold  produced  re- 
mains here  and  goes  to  pay  for  local  improve- 
ments.    When  1  see  men  who   came  to  Victo- 
ria eighteen   months  ago  poor,  growing  rich, 
ceasing  to  borrow  money,  au'l  building  house3 
:.:id  sliop«,  I  can  have  no  doubt  as  to  the  .source 
(f  their  improved  means.    Another  mo  '  im- 
j  ortant  '•  sign  of  the  times,"  and  a  most  grati- 
fying one,  is  the  growth  of  confidence  in  the 
{)!  rinaneiit  progress  of  the  place  and  in  the  fu- 
ture proiiuctieness  of  the  r-uines.     When  cau- 
tious and  prudent  men,  alter  long  observation 
and  due  reflection,  begin  to  make  permanent 
investments  in  real  property,  there  need  be  no 
fears  entertained  of  the   future.     My  own  con- 
viction is  that  the  day  of  the  retrogression  of 
both  colonies  is   past.    Their  progress  may  bo 
slow,  or  it  may  be  rapid,  but  progress  they 
must. 


^■■1 


m 


APPENDIX    "H. 


a  Tj  99 


PACIFIC   OCEAN  TELEGKAPH   BETWEEN  NORTHERN 

ASIA  AND  AMERICA. 


The  following  paragraphs  are  from  an  article 
in  the  Atlantic  Mmtkly,  for  March  1860,  upon 
the  "  Progress  of  the  Electric  Telegraph." 

"  A  late  European  steamer  brings  ^    ^p'^rt 
that  two  Russian  engineers  have  procet;. 
Pekin,  China,  to  make  preparations  for  a  i 
graphic  connection  between  that  place  and  the 
Russian  territory. 

"  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  arrange- 
ments will  soon  be  made  at  St.  Petersburg, 
through  private  companies  and  government 
subsidies,  for  completing  the  line  of  telegraph 
from  Novogorodto  the  mouth  of  the  A  moor, 
and  thence  across  the  straits  to  Russian  Amer- 
ica. In  the  meantime  a  company  has  already 
been  formed  and  incorporated  in  Canada,  under 
the  name  of  the  Transmundane  Telegraphic 
Company,  which  will  aflbrd  important  aid  in 
continuing  the  proposed  line  through  British 
America.  The  plan  is,  to  carry  the  wire  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Amoor  across  Behring's  Strait, 
to  and  through  Russian  and  British  America. 
From  Victoria  a  branch  will  be  extended  to  San 
Francisco,  and  another  to  Canada.    The  line 


from  San  Francisco  to  Missouri  is  under  way, 
and  Mr.  Collins,  who  is  engaged  in  the  Russian 
and  Canadian  enterprise,  thinks  that  by  the 
time  it  is  in  operation  he  shall  have  extended 
his  line  to  San  Francisco. 

"  This  is  unquestionably  the  most  feasible 
route  for  telegraph  communication  between 
America  and  Europe  ;  and,  though  the  longest 
by  several  thousand  miles,  it  would  afford  the 
most  rapid  means  of  communication,  owing  to 
the  great  superiority  of  aerial  over  subaqueous 
lines." 

To  a  similar  effect  is  an  item  of  European 
intelligence,  in  the  New  York  Herald,  of  Feb- 
ruary 20, 1860  : 

"  An  overland  route  for  telegraphic  commu- 
nication with  America  has  been  proposed  in 
France,  making  use  of  the  existing  lines  from 
London  to  Dresden,  and  from  thence  entering 
the  Russian  empire,  and  passing  through  Mos- 
cow and  Kasan.  Then  crossing  the  Ural  moun- 
tains to  Yakoutfik  and  on  to  the  Behring  Strait, 
crossing  this,  and  passing  through  Russian 
America  to  Canada  and  the  United  States." 


m 


vay, 

sian 

the 

ided 

jible 
?een 
gest 
the 
gto 
eous 

}ean 
?eb- 


d  in 
rom 
ring 
Mos- 
onn- 
rait, 
ssian 
I." 


